Celebrated Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o is dead, his family has confirmed.
The novelist, famed for books like A Grain of Wheat, Petals of Blood, Devil on the Cross and The River Between, breathed his last on Wednesday morning, May 28, 2025.
Taking to social media, Thiong’o’s daughter Wanjiku wa Ngugi implored Kenyans to celebrate his life and his work as he wished in his last days.
"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!," said Wanjiku.Thiong’o is recognised as a leading novelist in East Africa.
Initially writing in English, he later transitioned to writing in Gikuyu and other indigenous Kenyan languages, reflecting his commitment to decolonisation and linguistic self-determination.
His books often explore themes of colonialism, cultural identity, and social justice.
The celebrated author spent many years in exile, teaching at prestigious universities overseas such as Yale and the University of California, Irvine.
