- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o died on the morning of 28th May 2025
- His daughter Wanjiku announced the sad news through a heartfelt Facebook post
- Plans for memorial and celebration events will be shared by the family soon
- He was a strong voice for African identity, language, and justice
- Ngũgĩ faced arrest and exile due to his activism during Moi’s rule
- His books and teachings changed African literature forever
The family of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has confirmed that the respected writer and activist has died at the age of 87. His daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, shared the sad news through a post on Facebook, saying:
“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, fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate his life and his work. Rîa ratha na rîa thŭa. Tŭrî aira!”
The family has asked for space during this difficult time and stated that official details about memorial services and tributes will be released soon by the family’s spokesperson, Nducu wa Ngũgĩ.
A Fighter for Language, Culture, and Justice
Born in 1937 in Kamĩrĩthũ, Kiambu, Ngũgĩ grew to become one of Africa’s most powerful literary figures. His writing wasn’t just about telling stories—it was a strong tool for pushing back against colonial systems, both in politics and education.
Books like Weep Not, Child, The River Between, and Decolonising the Mind are now studied worldwide. His later novel, Wizard of the Crow (Mũrogi wa Kagogo), demonstrated that African stories could be told in African languages and still resonate with global readers.
His decision to write in Gikuyu—even when it brought trouble—was a bold act. After his arrest in 1977 by the Moi government due to his play Ngaahika Ndeenda, he went into exile, where he continued to teach and write in top universities across the world.
Ngũgĩ never stopped fighting for the soul of Africa. Through his words and actions, he reminded the world that African languages, culture, and ideas matter.
