Legendary Kenyan author and political activist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has passed away at the age of 87 in Buford, Georgia, United States. His death, which occurred on May 28, 2025, marks the end of an era for African literature and global intellectual thought.
Born James Ngugi on January 5, 1938, in Limuru, Kenya, Ngũgĩ rose to global prominence through his powerful novels, plays, and essays that championed African identity and condemned colonialism. His early novels, such as Weep Not, Child (1964) and The River Between (1965), explored the effects of colonialism and the Mau Mau uprising on Kenyan society.
A turning point in his life came in 1977, when Ngũgĩ was imprisoned by the Kenyan government for co-authoring the politically charged play I Will Marry When I Want. During his imprisonment, he made a conscious decision to stop writing in English and instead began writing in Gikuyu, his native language—a bold statement against cultural imperialism.
He went on to publish Decolonising the Mind (1986), a seminal collection of essays that argued for the preservation of African languages in literature and education. His magnum opus, Wizard of the Crow (2006), further established his reputation as a fearless critic of neocolonialism and authoritarian regimes.
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Ngũgĩ's literary brilliance earned him numerous international awards and honorary degrees. Despite being repeatedly nominated, he never won the Nobel Prize in Literature—a fact lamented by many in the literary world.
He is survived by his wife, Njeeri wa Ngũgĩ, and their children, many of whom have continued his legacy through activism and literature.
Tributes continue to pour in from around the world, with scholars, writers, and fans celebrating his life and lasting impact on global literature.
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