Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Renowned Kenyan Author and Critic of Colonialism, Passes Away at 87

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, a distinguished Kenyan novelist, playwright, and memoirist known for his critical exploration of colonial injustices and the failures of post-independence leadership, died on Wednesday in a hospital in Buford, Georgia. He was 87 years old.

His passing was confirmed by his son, Nducu.

Frequently regarded as a strong contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature, Ngugi spent many years living in exile to escape persecution from the Kenyan government due to his outspoken criticism. For several decades, he served as a professor of comparative literature and English at the University of California, Irvine. His writings have profoundly influenced generations of African authors alongside contemporaries like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka.

Ngugi’s literary debut, the 1964 novel “Weep Not, Child,” tells the story of Kenyan brothers confronting the turmoil of the Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule. It is widely recognized as the first significant novel in English by an East African author.

In contrast, his 1980 novel “Devil on the Cross,” originally written in his native Gikuyu language as “Caitaani Mutharaba-Ini,” is regarded as the first modern novel in Gikuyu. The narrative focuses on corrupt figures competing for power by exploiting ordinary people, marking the beginning of Ngugi’s commitment to writing in indigenous languages and later translating his works into English.

Remarkably, Ngugi composed “Devil on the Cross” on prison toilet paper while detained without trial by Kenyan authorities for a year, a consequence of his politically charged playwriting. The novel vividly captures the temptations and challenges he faced during his incarceration, showcasing his mastery of storytelling and resilience.