Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o (5 January 1938 – 28 May 2025) was a Kenyan novelist, playwright, and essayist whose pioneering work reshaped African literature by challenging colonial legacies and advocating for the use of indigenous languages.

He began his career writing in English, producing classics such as Weep Not, Child, The River Between, and A Grain of Wheat, before embracing Gĩkũyũ to “decolonize the mind,” resulting in landmark works like Devil on the Cross and Matigari. A fearless and courageous critic of political oppression, Ngũgĩ spent years in exile and decades teaching around the world, most recently as Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Irvine.

Throughout his life, he championed cultural independence and linguistic liberation, remaining a global advocate for African self-expression. His legacy endures as one of Africa’s most influential and uncompromising literary voices.

Novels included in this volume:

Weep Not, Child

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.

The River Between

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.

A Grain of Wheat

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.