Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (1938 – 2025) was one of Africa’s most important novelists and public intellectuals, known for his uncompromising critique of colonialism and postcolonial power structures.

His Selected Works—Weep Not, Child, The River Between, and A Grain of Wheat—chart Kenya’s journey from colonial domination to independence, while also interrogating the social and moral costs of liberation.

Ngũgĩ’s writing combines political urgency with a deep concern for culture, tradition, and language. His novels remain essential reading for anyone seeking to understand East Africa’s history, identity, and continuing struggles for justice.

The Selected Works of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Set during Kenya’s Mau Mau uprising, Weep Not, Child is a powerful, moving story that details the effects of the infamous Mau Mau war, the African nationalist revolt against colonial oppression in Kenya, on the lives of ordinary men and women, and on one family in particular. As political violence and colonial oppression intensify, dreams are shattered, revealing the deep personal and national costs of resistance and betrayal.

In The River Between, two rival Gikuyu communities struggle over whether to embrace Christianity or uphold traditional beliefs. Caught between these worlds is Waiyaki, a young leader torn between unity and division, whose efforts to bridge the cultural gap lead to both hope and tragedy.

Set on the eve of Kenya’s independence, A Grain of Wheat tells the interwoven stories of villagers marked by sacrifice, betrayal, and secrecy during the anti-colonial struggle. As the truth about a local hero’s past is revealed, the novel explores the complexity of freedom, loyalty, and moral compromise.