28/05/2025
It is with deep sorrow and profound respect that we mourn the passing of Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, a towering figure in global literature and an unyielding champion of African languages, thought, and identity. A true literary revolutionary, Prof. Ngũgĩ reshaped not only the African narrative but the conscience of world literature and academia at large.
From his early works such as Weep Not, Child and The River Between, to his powerful political allegories like Petals of Blood and Devil on the Cross, Prof. Ngũgĩ's writings unflinchingly interrogated colonialism, neocolonialism, and the struggle for cultural liberation. His seminal essays in Decolonising the Mind continue to serve as foundational texts in postcolonial studies, inspiring generations of scholars, writers, and freedom fighters.
Prof. Ngũgĩ’s courageous decision to write in Gikuyu, defying the dominance of colonial languages, was a profound statement of resistance and cultural affirmation. Through both fiction and scholarship, he amplified the voices of the marginalized and demanded dignity for the African identity.
Today, lecture halls across the world echo with his ideas. His pen stirred the conscience of a continent and ignited academic discourse globally. We honour him not only for his literary genius but for the enduring light he leaves behind in the world of letters, liberation, and learning.
Rest in power, Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. Your words will live forever.
