Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s most influential literary figures, has died at the age of 87.
His daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngugi, confirmed the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o this Wednesday morning, 28th May 2025. He lived a full life, and fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate his life and work. Rîa ratha na rîa thŭa. Tŭrî aira!” she wrote.
She also noted that the family’s spokesperson, Nducu wa Ngugi, would release more information about the celebration of his life in due course.
Ngũgĩ, who was born on January 5, 1938, in colonial Kenya, made his mark on global literature through novels, essays, and plays that dealt with colonial rule, independence struggles, social justice, and African identity.
He gained international acclaim not only for his writing but also for his unwavering support of African languages and cultural autonomy.
His debut novel, Weep Not, Child (1964), was the first to be published in English by a Kenyan writer. He went on to write The River Between (1965), which explored the tensions between tradition and change; A Grain of Wheat (1967), a narrative set against the backdrop of Kenya’s independence; Petals of Blood (1977), which addressed post-independence corruption; and Devil on the Cross (1980), originally written in Kikuyu as a political statement.
Ngũgĩ was arrested and held without trial in 1977 due to his outspoken criticism of government policies.
Following his release, he went into exile and continued his work from abroad.
He later became a respected academic, teaching at leading institutions such as Yale University and the University of California, Irvine, where he served as Professor of English and Comparative Literature.
Throughout his lifetime, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o remained a leading voice in the call to decolonise African literature and promote the use of indigenous languages in literature and education.