06/02/2025
Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Ali Mazrui, Chinua Achebe, 1986.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was a renowned Kenyan writer, academic, and advocate for African languages and decolonization. Born in 1938, Ngũgĩ began his literary career writing in English but later committed himself to writing in his native Gikuyu as a political and cultural stance against colonialism and linguistic imperialism. His early works like Weep Not, Child and The River Betweehttps://x.com/JnrJanetn explore the impact of colonialism on Kenyan society, while later works such as Devil on the Cross and Matigari delve into postcolonial critique and resistance. Ngũgĩ’s decision to abandon English in favor of African languages made him a leading voice in the movement to restore African cultural identity through literature. His memoirs and essays, including Decolonising the Mind, remain seminal texts in postcolonial thought and African studies.
Ali Mazrui was a distinguished Kenyan political scientist, scholar, and commentator on African and global affairs. Born in 1933 in Mombasa, he gained international prominence through his prolific academic work and his groundbreaking 1986 BBC documentary series The Africans: A Triple Heritage, which examined the complex interplay of indigenous, Islamic, and Western influences on African societies. Mazrui held professorships at several prestigious universities, including the University of Michigan and Binghamton University. His work often focused on themes such as African identity, governance, and the legacy of colonialism. A pan-Africanist and global intellectual, Mazrui was known for his eloquent analysis of Africa’s place in the world and his call for intellectual and political autonomy for the continent.
Chinua Achebe was a celebrated Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, widely regarded as the father of modern African literature. Born in 1930, he achieved international acclaim with his debut novel Things Fall Apart (1958), a powerful portrayal of the clash between traditional Igbo society and British colonialism. Achebe’s literary works, including No Longer at Ease, Arrow of God, and Anthills of the Savannah, critique colonial rule and its aftermath while exploring themes of i
