Renowned Kenyan author and intellectual Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has died at the age of 87.
His daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, confirmed his passing in a Facebook post on Wednesday, 28 May 2025. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o… He lived a full life and fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate his life and work. Rîa ratha na rîa thŭa. Tŭrî aira,” she wrote.
She also noted that Nducu wa Ngugi, the family’s spokesperson, would share details of the writer’s celebration of life in due course.
Born James Ngugi in 1938 in colonial Kenya, Ngũgĩ rose from humble beginnings in Limuru to become one of Africa’s most revered literary voices. His writings chronicled Kenya’s journey from colonial rule to independence, and he became internationally known for his uncompromising critique of post-colonial leadership in Africa.
His outspoken criticism of government oppression led to his imprisonment without trial in 1977, following the staging of his politically charged play Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want). After his release, Ngũgĩ went into self-imposed exile, continuing his writing and academic work abroad, particularly in the United States.
Ngũgĩ’s major literary works include:
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Weep Not, Child (1964) – the first novel in English by a Kenyan author
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The River Between (1965) – a story of cultural conflict and colonialism
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A Grain of Wheat (1967) – a profound reflection on Kenya’s independence struggle
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Petals of Blood (1977) – a scathing critique of post-independence betrayal
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Devil on the Cross (1980) – originally written in Kikuyu as a political statement
A lifelong advocate for African languages, Ngũgĩ eventually chose to write primarily in Kikuyu, arguing that language was central to decolonising the African mind.
His legacy lives on not just through his books, but through the generations of writers and scholars he inspired across Africa and beyond. As tributes pour in from around the world, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o is being remembered as a towering figure in world literature and a staunch defender of African identity, justice, and truth.
