Kenyan author and scholar Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has died, his family confirmed on Wednesday, 28th May 2025. Known for his influential role in African literature and his focus on decolonizing language and education, Ngũgĩ passed away earlier in the day.
His daughter, Wanjiku Ngugi, announced the death on her social media accounts.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o this Wednesday morning, 28th May 2025,” she wrote on Facebook. “He lived a full life, fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate his life and his work.”
Ngũgĩ, who was 87 years old, wrote extensively over a career that lasted more than sixty years. His body of work includes novels, essays, plays, and children’s books. Titles such as Petals of Blood, A Grain of Wheat, and Decolonising the Mind are considered key texts in African literature.
The family has asked the public to remember Ngũgĩ through his published work and the ideas he promoted.
In a statement, they said: “As per his wish, let this be a time not only of mourning but of reflection and appreciation. His words, his activism, and his dreams for a just and liberated Africa live on in all of us.”
Born in 1938 in Limuru, Kenya, Ngũgĩ was known for his promotion of African languages. He made the decision to stop writing in English and began publishing in Gikuyu, a move that challenged prevailing literary standards.
Messages of condolence have been posted by writers, scholars, and political figures. Some described him as “a literary warrior,” “a conscience of Africa,” and “a revolutionary voice for the voiceless.”
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. The family said additional information will be released in the coming days.
