The passing of celebrated Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o on May 28, 2025, has sparked renewed discussions across Africa, particularly in Francophone countries, about the role of language in post-colonial literature. Known for his groundbreaking decision to write in Kikuyu—his mother tongue—Ngũgĩ is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most principled literary voices.
Born in 1938 during British colonial rule, Ngũgĩ’s early works were penned in English, but he later rejected colonial languages for his native Kikuyu. This choice, though controversial, positioned him as a leading advocate for linguistic decolonization in African literature. His seminal essay collection, Decolonising the Mind (1986), critiques the dominance of colonial languages and challenges African writers to embrace indigenous tongues.
His decision to write in Kikuyu earned him admiration from across the continent. Kenyan poet and language activist Njeri Wangarĩ described him as “an oracle” whose work inspired her to promote African storytelling in native languages. She noted that Ngũgĩ’s children’s books were as enlightening for her as a mother as they were magical for her children.
Ngũgĩ’s influence also extended into Francophone Africa, even if his recognition there has lagged. Congolese literary blogger Lareus Gangoueus recounted how Ngũgĩ’s address at a 2019 Paris event challenged the audience to imagine African literature written exclusively in African languages. He urged translators to bridge the gap—not only into European languages but also between African languages like Swahili, Lingala, and Zulu.
Despite his impact, Ngũgĩ remains relatively unknown among French-speaking audiences. Togolese author Sami Tchak lamented that many celebrate Ngũgĩ’s political symbolism without engaging with his actual work. He called for deeper readership, regardless of language, as the true path to honoring the writer’s legacy.
In recent years, more voices have called for expanding access to Ngũgĩ’s writings in French, noting that institutional neglect has limited his reach in the Francophone world. Advocates hope that his death will spark renewed efforts to translate and disseminate his work more widely.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s commitment to linguistic justice and cultural self-determination continues to resonate across the continent, reminding writers and readers alike of the power embedded in African languages—and the urgent need to protect and elevate them.