By BigEyeUg Team
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the acclaimed Kenyan author, scholar, and activist, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Atlanta, USA, at the age of 87.
His daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, confirmed his passing with a statement that reflected the strength of his legacy: “He lived a full life, fought a good fight.”
Born James Ngugi on January 5, 1938, in Kamiriithu, Kenya, Ngũgĩ emerged as one of the most influential voices in African literature.
His works, including Weep Not, Child (1964), The River Between (1965), A Grain of Wheat (1967), Petals of Blood (1977), and Wizard of the Crow (2006), offered powerful examinations of colonialism, identity, and resistance.
Ngũgĩ’s literary journey was deeply intertwined with his political and cultural convictions. A staunch advocate for African languages, he made a bold shift later in his career to write primarily in his native Gikuyu, asserting the value of indigenous tongues in postcolonial literature.
This decision, alongside his outspoken criticism of government oppression, led to his imprisonment in 1977 and eventual exile.
Despite political adversity, Ngũgĩ’s voice never wavered. He continued to write prolifically and lecture internationally, holding academic posts at prestigious institutions such as Yale University and the University of California, Irvine.
Over the years, he received numerous international honors and was frequently cited as a likely Nobel laureate, though the prize ultimately eluded him.
Ngũgĩ is survived by his wife, Njeeri, and nine children—four of whom have followed in his literary footsteps. The family has indicated that details regarding his memorial services will be shared in the coming days.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o leaves behind a towering legacy of intellectual courage, literary brilliance, and cultural pride that reshaped the landscape of African literature and inspired generations of writers and activists across the globe.