The world of literature, academia, and global cultural thought is mourning the loss of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the legendary Kenyan author, scholar, and decolonial voice, who passed away peacefully this morning, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 87. The news was confirmed by his daughter, the novelist Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, in a public statement:
“He lived a full life. He fought a good fight.”
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was not only a celebrated author but a global intellectual force, revered for his groundbreaking contributions to African literature, his unwavering advocacy for the preservation of indigenous languages, and his fearless critique of colonial and neocolonial power structures. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, Ngũgĩ produced a body of work that transformed the global literary landscape and redefined the role of the African writer.
Born in 1938 in Kamiriithu, near Limuru in British-ruled Kenya, Ngũgĩ rose from humble beginnings during the height of the colonial occupation to become one of the most widely read and studied African authors of all time. His early novels—Weep Not, Child (1964), The River Between (1965), A Grain of Wheat (1967), and Petals of Blood (1977)—won him international acclaim for their unflinching depictions of colonial violence, land dispossession, and the complexities of post-independence African identity.
Yet Ngũgĩ’s career took a pivotal turn in 1977, when he was imprisoned by the Kenyan government for co-authoring a community theatre play in Gikuyu, his mother tongue, that challenged corruption and injustice. Following his release from prison, he made a radical commitment to write exclusively in African languages, beginning with Caitaani Mũtharaba-Inĩ (Devil on the Cross, 1980), originally composed on prison toilet paper. This bold linguistic shift crystallized his lifelong intellectual mission, later codified in his landmark essay collection Decolonising the Mind (1986)—a text that has since become a foundational work in postcolonial studies and language politics around the world.
Throughout his years in exile in Europe and the United States, Ngũgĩ remained a fierce advocate for cultural sovereignty, political accountability, and intellectual freedom. He taught at institutions including Yale University, New York University, and the University of California, Irvine, where he served as Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature. His later works, such as the satirical epic Wizard of the Crow (2006), further cemented his reputation as a literary innovator with a prophetic grasp of Africa’s political struggles and spiritual resilience.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s influence resonates far beyond the borders of Kenya or Africa. He has inspired generations of writers, scholars, and activists across continents—from postcolonial theorists to indigenous language revivalists, from novelists of the African diaspora to students in decolonial classrooms across Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean. His commitment to truth-telling, linguistic justice, and the dignity of African narratives earned him numerous honors, including more than ten honorary doctorates, international literary awards, and perennial nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Ngũgĩ is survived by his beloved wife Njeeri wa Ngũgĩ and their nine children, several of whom—Tee Ngũgĩ, Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ, Nducu wa Ngũgĩ, and Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ—have themselves become prominent writers, artists, and scholars, carrying forward their father’s creative legacy.
In the coming days, the family will release information regarding memorial services and international tributes to honor his extraordinary life and enduring impact. As tributes pour in from around the world—from heads of state, academic institutions, literary organizations, and cultural leaders—it is clear that Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s death marks not only the passing of a brilliant writer, but the end of an era in global literature.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (1938–2025) A conscience of the continent. A custodian of language. A prophet of liberation.
