Renowned Kenyan Writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Dies at 87 in the U.S.

 

Celebrated Kenyan author and scholar Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has died at the age of 87 in the United States, where he had lived in exile for decades. The news of his passing was confirmed on Wednesday morning by his daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, in a heartfelt Facebook post.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, this Wednesday morning,” she wrote. “He lived a full life, fought a good fight.”

Ngũgĩ, a towering figure in African literature, had been battling prostate cancer and underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2019. He spent his final years in California, where he served as a professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California.

Born in 1938 in Limuru, Kenya, Ngũgĩ rose to international acclaim with his powerful novels exploring colonialism, independence, and social justice in Kenya. His notable works include The River Between, A Grain of Wheat, Petals of Blood, Devil on the Cross (Caitaani Mutharaba-Ini), Weep Not, Child, and the widely staged play I Will Marry When I Want, co-written with Ngũgĩ wa Mirii.

His 1977 arrest followed the premiere of I Will Marry When I Want, a politically charged play critical of the post-colonial Kenyan government. He was imprisoned in Kamiti Maximum Security Prison without trial. Upon release, he went into exile in 1982 after learning he was a target for further persecution upon returning from a book tour in the UK.

Ngũgĩ eventually settled in the United States, where he continued to write in his native Gikuyu language, championing the use of African languages in literature. He founded Mũtĩiri, a Gikuyu-language journal, and wrote influential essays and short stories, including The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright, which has been translated into more than 100 languages.

Despite facing exile, imprisonment, and political harassment, Ngũgĩ remained a steadfast voice for decolonization, linguistic freedom, and African empowerment through literature. His works, deeply rooted in Kenyan history and struggle, inspired generations across the continent and beyond.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o leaves behind a remarkable literary legacy and is mourned not only in Kenya but around the world. Tributes continue to pour in from literary circles, scholars, and political leaders recognizing him as one of Africa’s greatest literary minds.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

May 29, 2025