Acclaimed Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has died at the age of 87, his daughter Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ announced.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o,” Wanjiku wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. “He lived a full life, fought a good fight. As per his last wish, let us celebrate his life and his work,” she said.
At the time of his death, Ngũgĩ was reportedly undergoing kidney dialysis treatment, but the immediate cause of death is still unknown.
The family is expected to announce plans for memorial services and public tributes in the coming days. “The family’s spokesperson, Nducu wa Ngũgĩ, will announce details of his celebration of life soon,” Wanjiku said.
At the time of his passing, aged 87, Ngũgĩ was residing in California, United States, where he had spent most of his later years. Due to the nature of his work, which often challenged those in power, he had lived much of his life in exile or semi-exile since the 1980s.
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Born James Ngugi on January 5, 1938, Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was a novelist, playwright, essayist, and academic who pioneered the decolonization of African literature through language.
He began his career writing in English but later embraced his native Gikuyu, championing linguistic authenticity and cultural liberation.
President William Ruto has led the country in mourning the death of the celebrated author and scholar.
“I have learnt with sadness about the death of Kenya’s beloved teacher, writer, playwright, and public intellectual, Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o. The towering giant of Kenyan letters has put down his pen for the final time,” President Ruto said.
“Always courageous, he made an indelible impact on how we think about our independence, social justice as well as the uses and abuses of political and economic power.”
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also joined the nation in mourning the loss of Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, calling his death the fall of a literary and intellectual giant.
“A giant African has fallen. Rest in Eternal Peace, author Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o!” Odinga said in a tribute shared on social media.
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