Africa's literary giant Ngugi Wa Thiong'o died!

Africa's literary giant Ngugi Wa Thiong'o died!

Limuru, Kenia - ngugi wa thiong’o, a central figure in African literature, died on May 29, 2025. Born on January 5, 1938 in a Kral in rural Central Kenia, Ngugi was the fifth child in a family with 24 siblings and grew up in a strongly patriarchal society under British colonial rule. This early experience shaped his literary work and his profound examination of topics such as identity, colonialism and cultural heritage. According to Kleine Zeitung, his childhood was overshadowed by the MAU-MAU-exemption movement and an emerging civil war, which influenced his later works.

ngugi's educational path was remarkable. He attended a missionary school and then several elementary schools before visiting the Alliance High School and Makerer University in Uganda. In the year in which Kenya became independent in 1963, Ngugi acquired his Bachelor of Arts, followed by a further degree at the University of Leeds. Sa History emphasized that during his studies he began to get involved in literary, which culminated in his debut novel "Weep not, Child" from 1964. This work represented its international breakthrough and addressed the difficulties of the Kenyan society during the colonial era.

influential works

ngugi wa thiong’o is known for its profound novels and essays, including "burned flowers", "Matigari" and "The Lord of the Krows". In the 1970s, he decided to take his English name James and only write Gikuyu in his mother tongue, which strengthened cultural identity and postcolonial discourse in his works. His decision to write in an African language reflects his conviction that publishers for young writers in African languages ​​offer little support, which led to stagnating literature development. Royal Lite Global points out that NGugi thus became an important voice for the preservation and promotion of African languages ​​and cultures.

In addition to his writing, NGugi was also active in the academic world. From 1992 he taught at various US universities, including at New York University, where he became a professor of comparative literature and performance studies. During his career, he was often invited to public lectures at leading universities and received numerous awards. After several murder attacks, Ngugi returned to Kenya in 2004 after the autocratic rule of President Daniel Arap Moi ended. Nevertheless, he left a lasting impression in the entire world of literature and was often traded as a favorite for the Nobel Literature Prize.

legacy and reaction to his death

With Ngugi's death, the literary world loses a "giant of Kenyan literature", as President Ruto described his services. His works were translated into over 30 languages ​​and influenced generations of readers. The fact that four of his children are also a writer, but who write in English, shows the lasting influence that he has exercised on the literary landscape in and outside of Kenya.

ngugi wa thiong’o is remembered as one of the most important votes in Africa, whose life and works are deeply rooted in the history and culture of the continent. His access to topics that affect both personal and collective identity will continue to be inspiration for future generations of writers.

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OrtLimuru, Kenia
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