Renowned African literary icon, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, passes away at 87

Kenyan literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has died at the age of 87 in Atlanta, USA. The acclaimed writer, known for his fearless critique of colonialism and commitment to African languages, was a long-time favorite for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

His daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, announced his passing on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad… He lived a full life, fought a good fight.” His son, Mukoma wa Ngũgĩ, wrote on X: “I love him – I am not sure what tomorrow will bring without him here.”

Ngũgĩ rose to global prominence through novels like Weep Not, Child (1964), Devil on the Cross (1980), and Wizard of the Crow (2006), which explored Kenya’s colonial and postcolonial struggles.

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Born in 1938 under British rule, he witnessed the brutal Mau Mau uprising, during which his family suffered land dispossession and personal loss. He was imprisoned in 1977 for his activism and later lived in exile.

Ngũgĩ was also one of the few major authors to write in Gikuyu, championing the use of indigenous languages in literature. He remained politically outspoken throughout his life.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1995, he also underwent heart surgery in 2019. He is survived by nine children, four of whom—Tee, Mũkoma, Nducu, and Wanjiku—are also writers. Further details on his death are expected to be released soon.