Legendary Author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Dies at 87, Leaves Indelible Legacy

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the towering Kenyan literary icon who championed African languages and decolonization through storytelling, has died at 87. His bold critiques of colonialism and post-independence oppression led to censorship, imprisonment, and exile, yet he never ceased writing—often in his native Gikuyu. From Weep Not, Child to Wizard of the Crow, Ngũgĩ’s works spotlighted African identity and resilience. His refusal to abandon indigenous expression made him a perennial Nobel contender and a trailblazer for generations. Even amid personal tragedies and state violence, he remained defiant, once saying, “Resistance is the best way of keeping alive.” His legacy endures through his writings and the many writers he inspired.

The Guardian