Renowned Kenyan author, scholar, and activist Ngugi wa Thiong’o has passed away at the age of 87, marking the end of a monumental era in African literature. His family confirmed his death on the evening of Wednesday, May 28, 2025, with his daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, saying in a heartfelt Facebook post, “He lived a full life, fought a good fight.”
A towering figure in global literary and intellectual circles, Ngugi’s works have left an indelible mark on literature, education, and activism. Born in 1937 in Kamiriithu, Limuru, Ngũgĩ began his career writing in English with critically acclaimed novels like Weep Not, Child, A Grain of Wheat, and Petals of Blood. However, his experiences with colonialism and political repression led him to a radical shift choosing to write exclusively in Gikuyu to champion African languages and identities.
In 1977, his politically charged play Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want), performed in Gikuyu, led to his detention without trial by the Moi regime. It was a turning point that solidified his lifelong resistance to oppression and commitment to linguistic decolonization.
Ngũgĩ spent many years in exile, lecturing at prestigious universities including Yale and the University of California, Irvine. Despite the distance, his ties to Kenya remained firm through his language, activism, and constant critique of neocolonial injustices.
Tributes have poured in from all over the world. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga praised him as a literary giant who “challenged oppression and celebrated the power of indigenous voices.” Dr. Ezekiel Mutua called him “a towering figure and one of Africa’s greatest voices.”
Ngũgĩ is survived by his children and grandchildren, many of whom have continued his legacy in writing and activism.
As the family plans memorials and tributes, the world celebrates a life defined not by silence but by powerful words. In Wanjiku’s words: “Rîa ratha na rîa thŭa. Tŭrî aira!” “With joy and sorrow. We are proud.”
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s legacy will endure in books, classrooms, and hearts around the world forever a voice for justice, memory, and the enduring power of African stories.
