‘I AM BECAUSE OF HIM’ NGUGI WA THIONG’O’S SON AND DAUGHTER MOURN FATHER

The family of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, one of Africa’s most revered writers, has announced his passing at the age of 87.  His children, Wanjikũ wa Ngũgĩ and Mukoma wa Ngũgĩ, shared emotional tributes, remembering their father as a towering intellectual, a fierce advocate for African languages, and a loving parent.

Wanjikũ confirmed the news on Facebook, writing, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. He lived a full life, fought a good fight.”

Mukoma, who is a writer, also shared his own tribute, “It tears my heart to say that my father, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, passed away earlier today. I am me because of him in so many ways, as his child, scholar, and writer. I love him. I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring without him here.”

Born in 1938 in colonial Kenya, Ngũgĩ’s life and work were shaped by the Mau Mau uprising and the struggle for independence. After Kenya’s liberation in 1963, he became a vocal critic of both colonial oppression and postcolonial injustices. His novels, essays, and plays written first in English, then defiantly in Gĩkũyũ explored themes of language, identity, and power, leaving an indelible mark on global literature.

At the time of his death, Ngũgĩ was undergoing kidney dialysis treatment, though the exact cause remains undisclosed. His passing has sparked an outpouring of grief from scholars, activists, and readers worldwide.