Language, Liberation, and the legacy of Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: A “Global Literary Icon”.
MCAA, Staff Writer
Kenya, Nairobi (6/07/2025)
The Rift Valley Institute (RVI) organized the event in collaboration with the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA), literary scholars, and cultural institutions, held a powerful memorial forum in Nairobi to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the acclaimed Kenyan writer, thinker, and decolonial activist who 
passed away recently.
The event, held at the British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA) grounds in Kileleshwa, brought together intellectuals, students, policy-makers, and writers from across East Africa to reflect on Prof. Ngũgĩ’s extraordinary influence on African literature, education, and cultural identity.
A forum commemorating the life and work of Prof Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o on Saturday deliberated whether the renowned author would have been inspired by the passion and zeal of Gen Z, who are actively agitating for political and social reforms in Kenya.
Hon. Yusuf Hassan reflects on Prof. Ngugi’s fight for democracy and their time in exile together, calling him a lightning rod of Pan-African and political struggle. He shared that Ngugi had recently been energised by the Gen Z movement sweeping across Kenya.
Prof Kimani Njogu explores the centrality of language in Ngugi’s work, offering historical and intellectual depth that enriches the conversation and deepens our understanding of his legacy.
Mohamed Amin, a political commentator, pays tribute to Prof Ngugi with a focus on the Gen Z movement, linking Ngugi’s ideas to the struggles we are witnessing today in Kenya.
Legacy remembered after his passing (May 28, 2025)
Ngũgĩ died in Buford, Georgia, at age 87, after years of kidney issues. He leaves behind nine children and a rich legacy in literature and activism. Tributes poured in from President Ruto, who called him a “towering giant of Kenyan letters”—and figures like Wole Soyinka and Raila Odinga, highlighting his pivotal shift to writing in Gikuyu, his critique of colonial and post-colonial corruption, and his influence on African thought.
Ngũgĩ, in his final years, was still engaged two months ago
Weeks before his passing, Ngũgĩ, while aged 87, remained a vocal advocate for language decolonisation. He expressed intent to write a new book titled Normalised Abnormality on the lingering effects of colonialism and celebrated the release of his essay collection Decolonising Language. He continued to critique the dominance of English in Kenya as “mental colonisation”.
