Read how Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, left a legacy with African languages

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, the renowned Kenyan writer, has died astatine 87 aft a 60-year vocation focused connected colonialism, independence, and taste alteration successful Kenya. His bequest includes inspiring pridefulness successful African languages and civilization contempt struggles, exile, and attacks

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, the celebrated Kenyan writer champion known for Weep Not, Child, has died at the property of 87.

His work, which spanned astir 60 years, focused connected Kenya’s travel done colonialism, independence, and taste change.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o: Popular Kenyan Writer of Weep Not Child Who Wrote successful His Native Language
Source: Getty Images

In this article, Legit.ng highlights his aboriginal life, career, struggles, and the bequest helium leaves behind.

Ngugi's aboriginal beingness successful assemblage Kenya

Ngugi was calved arsenic James Thiong’o Ngũgĩ connected January 5, 1938, successful Limuru, Kenya, erstwhile the state was inactive nether British rule. He came from a large, mediocre household that farmed for a living.

Despite their struggles, his parents sent him to Alliance High School, a missionary boarding school. As a teenager, helium witnessed the Mau Mau Uprising (1952–1962), a large combat for Kenya’s independence. This lawsuit would signifier galore of his aboriginal stories.

He aboriginal attended Makerere University successful Uganda, wherever helium began penning seriously.

Writing vocation and connection shift

Ngũgĩ wrote his archetypal novel, Weep Not, Child, successful 1964. It was the archetypal large English caller by an East African writer. That aforesaid year, helium won a assistance to survey for a master’s grade astatine the University of Leeds successful England.

He went connected to people The River Between (1965), A Grain of Wheat (1967), and Petals of Blood (1977). These books explored the effects of colonialism and the conflict for independence.

Ngugi co-wrote a play successful Kikuyu, Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want), successful 1977, which had a beardown governmental message.

Ngugi's imprisonment and exile

As a effect of his 1977 caller and play, helium was arrested and jailed without proceedings for astir a twelvemonth by the Kenyan authorities led by Jomo Kenyatta.

While successful prison, Ngugi made a bold determination to halt penning successful English and began utilizing Kikuyu, his parent tongue. He believed African stories should beryllium told successful African languages.

He wrote his archetypal Kikuyu novel, Caitani Mutharabaini, successful prison, utilizing toilet insubstantial due to the fact that helium had nary notebook.

The publication was translated into English arsenic Devil connected the Cross successful 1982.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o: Popular Kenyan Writer of Weep Not Child Who Wrote successful His Native Language
Source: Getty Images

During this time, helium besides dropped his English name, James, to afloat clasp his African identity.

In 1982, portion successful London, Ngũgĩ learned of a program to harm him if helium returned to Kenya. Fearing for his life, helium went into self-exile, archetypal successful the UK and aboriginal successful the United States.

He stayed distant from Kenya for implicit 20 years. When helium yet returned successful 2004, helium and his woman were attacked.

Ngugi's bequest and idiosyncratic struggles

Ngugi received galore awards and honorary degrees from apical universities astir the world. Although galore believed helium deserved to beryllium a Nobel Laureate, helium ne'er received it.

He was joined doubly and had 9 children, 4 of whom besides became authors.

In his aboriginal years, Ngugi's wellness declined. He had triple bosom bypass country successful 2019 and aboriginal developed kidney problems.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o's prime to constitute successful Kikuyu inspired galore to instrumentality pridefulness successful their civilization and language.

In a related story, Legit.ng celebrated women who played roles successful Nigerian independence.

Ladi Kwali: Famous Nigerian potter connected N20 note

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Many Nigerians walk the N20 enactment regular without knowing the communicative of the singular pistillate whose representation graces its back.

Kwali's accomplishment enactment Nigeria successful the spotlight and gained her planetary notable achievements.

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Source: Legit.ng