4 MUST-READ BOOKS BY NGŨGĨ WA THIONG'O

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a towering figure in African literature and a staunch anti-imperialist who advocated for Africans to use African languages, died on 28 May in the US state of Georgia. 

Born James Thiong'o Ngũgĩ in British-ruled Kenya in 1938, the country's struggle for independence shaped his life and work. Ngũgĩ’s writings served as a mirror to society, challenging both colonial rule and post-independence leaders serving former colonisers. 

His novels like ‘Devil on the Cross’ (1980), written on toilet paper during a prison stint, expose the brutal grip of capitalism and corruption, while ‘Decolonising the Mind’ (1986) remains a foundational book of essays on postcolonial thought, urging African writers to reject colonial languages in favour of their own. Ngũgĩ’s decision to abandon English and write in his native Gikuyu was radical, aligning language with the cause of liberation.

In his novel, 'Petals of Blood' (1977), the characters fight African elites who are aligned with colonial powers.

In another novel, ‘Matigari’ (1986), Ngũgĩ weaves the tale of a freedom fighter returning to a newly independent fictional country, only to find it still in the clutches of colonialism. Hoping for peace but confronted by institutional violence and betrayal, the main character’s story becomes a parable for generational resistance and the need for continuous struggle against oppression. 

These works only scratch the surface of Ngũgĩ’s (@NgugiWaThiongo_ on X) literary legacy, which continues to resonate with their themes of justice, decolonisation and the betrayal of the postcolonial promise.

Video credits: @cccb_barcelona (IG) / @cececebe (X); 'Africa Addio,' Cineriz (1966)