Iconic Kenyan novelist and playwright Ngugi wa Thiong’o, known for his sharp criticisms of post-independence elites, has passed away at the age of 87, according to Kenya’s President. Thiong’o’s life and work were shaped by his experiences during the armed Mau Mau struggle for independence from Britain, which he witnessed in his adolescence.
In December 1977, Thiong’o was arrested and detained for a year without charge in a maximum security prison after peasants and workers performed his play “Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want)”. The play criticized the inequalities in Kenyan society, leading the authorities to send three truckloads of police to raze the theatre where it was performed.
Fearing for his life after learning of plans by President Daniel arap Moi’s security services to arrest and kill him, Thiong’o went into exile in 1982. During his exile, he became a professor of English and comparative literature at the University of California-Irvine. He returned to Kenya in 2004 following Moi’s departure from office.
Kenya’s current President, William Ruto, paid tribute to Thiong’o after his passing, acknowledging his courageous impact on how Kenyans think about independence, social justice, and the uses and abuses of political and economic power. Thiong’o’s works, including his debut novel “Weep Not Child” and “Devil on the Cross” written on toilet paper while in prison, are widely celebrated.
In the 1980s, Thiong’o made the decision to write in his mother tongue Gikuyu, bidding farewell to English as a way of reclaiming his cultural identity and challenging the legacy of colonialism. Despite his return to Kenya and his forgiveness towards Moi, Thiong’o remained steadfast in his belief that the abuses of the past should not be forgotten, urging his countrymen to avoid a return to dictatorship.
Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s legacy as a fearless critic, prolific writer, and advocate for social justice will continue to inspire generations of Kenyan writers and intellectuals. His indelible impact on the literary world and his commitment to challenging power structures will be remembered for years to come.
