About
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, born James Ngugi in 1938 in Kenya under British colonial rule, is a major figure in African literature. After studying at Makerere and Leeds, he published his first novel, *Weep Not, Child* (1964), the first English-language novel by an East African. In 1977, he renounced his colonial name and wrote in Gikuyu, leading to his imprisonment without trial. Released in 1978, he lived in exile from 1982. His essay *Decolonising the Mind* (1986) advocates for African literature in indigenous languages. He taught at several American universities and received numerous awards, though never the Nobel.
* 1938-01-05 — † 2025-05-28
Major works
- Weep Not, Child (1964)novel
- The River Between (1965)novel
- A Grain of Wheat (1967)novel
- Petals of Blood (1977)novel
- Wizard of the Crow (2006)novel
Key milestones
- 1977Renounced his colonial name and co-wrote the play *Ngaahika Ndeenda*, leading to his imprisonment.
- 1978Released from prison after an international campaign; Amnesty International had declared him a prisoner of conscience.
- 1986Published *Decolonising the Mind*, an influential essay collection.
Themes
decolonizationlanguage and identitypolitical resistanceKenyan historyexile
Sources: thebookerprizes.com · penguin.co.uk