KENYAN literary icon, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s most celebrated novelists, scholars, and writers, has passed away.
The news was confirmed by his daughter, Wanjikũ wa Ngũgĩ, also a writer, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
In her statement, she wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our father, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, this Wednesday morning, 28th May 2025.
“He lived a full life and fought a good fight. In accordance with his final wishes, let us celebrate his life and legacy. Rîa ratha na rîa thŭa. Tŭrî aira!”
The family’s spokesperson, Nducu wa Ngũgĩ, will soon share details regarding memorial arrangements.
Born on January 5, 1938, in rural Kenya during British colonial rule, Ngũgĩ grew up amid significant political and social change, which profoundly shaped his literary and activist work.
He is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential writers, with a body of work encompassing novels, plays, essays, and memoirs that critically examine colonialism, cultural identity, and oppression.
Among his most notable works are: Weep Not, Child (1964), his debut novel and one of the first English-language novels by a Kenyan author; The River Between (1965), exploring the tension between tradition and modernity; A Grain of Wheat (1967), a pivotal work on Kenya’s struggle for independence; Petals of Blood (1977), a critique of post-colonial corruption and neo-colonialism; Devil on the Cross (1980), originally written in Gĩkũyũ as a political statement.
Ngũgĩ’s activism and criticism of the Kenyan government led to his imprisonment without trial in 1977. Following his release, he lived in exile, continuing his academic and literary career abroad.
He held teaching positions at prestigious institutions, including Yale University and the University of California, Irvine, where he served as a professor of English and Comparative Literature.
His contributions to literature and post-colonial discourse remain enduring, leaving a profound legacy in African and global literature.
