Literary heritage in grief: Ngugi Wa Thiong’o died at the age of 87

Literary heritage in grief: Ngugi Wa Thiong’o died at the age of 87

Kenia - ngugi wa thiong’o, a highly respected Kenyan writer and voice of resistance, died at the age of 87. The news about his death was announced by his daughter Wanjiku Wa Ngugi on Facebook, while Ngugi was in kidney dialysis treatments at that time. The exact cause of death is still unknown. Ngugi, born in 1938, is considered one of the most important postcolonial writers of Africa, whose work is deeply rooted in the historical conditions of Kenya.

The brutal Mau Mau-War in the 1950s is one of the formative events in Ngugi's early life. His literary work criticized not only British colonial rule, but also the challenges in Kenya after independence in 1963. Topics such as language, culture, history and identity go through his works, which underlines its importance in African literature.

influential works and further developments

In the 1970s, Ngugi moved from English to the languages ​​of Kikuyu and Swahili, which many regarded as controversial. His most famous work, "Decolonising the Mind", published in 1986, argues that the liberation of oppression cannot be released in the language of the oppressors. He also created significant novels such as "Petals of Blood" and "The Wizard of the Crow", both of which are regularly counted under the most recognized works of African literature.

his piece "I will marry when I want" led to his arrest in Kenya in 1977, which gave his career a dramatic turn. In the years after, Ngugi had to go to the self -imposed exile in the United Kingdom, after a ban on theater groups in Kenya. During his time in exile, he taught at various universities, including the University of California, Irvine, and continued to research the topics of identity and colonial past in his writings.

a legacy of hope and resistance

ngugi was not only a literary, but also a sharp critic of the political conditions in Kenya. He warned of the new elite class in the country and described it as "the death of hopes, the death of dreams and the death of beauty". Despite the adversity, including multiple threats to his life, his commitment to freedom and justice remained unshakable.

After his death, numerous personalities and organizations, including Kenya opposition leader Martha Karua and Amnesty International, recognized Ngugi as literary giants and patriot. His student Margaretta WACHERU called him a national icon and compared him to the great writer Leo Tolstoi.

The legacy of NGugi Wa Thiong’o represents a significant part of African literature. His works are not only critical arguments with colonial and postcolonial issues, but also reflect on the search for identity and belonging. This makes it of incomparable value for an international audience, especially at a time when the topics of his writings are as relevant as ever.