Renowned Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o has passed away at the age of 87. The news of his death was shared by his daughter, Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, on her Facebook page today, Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, this morning, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. He lived a full life and fought his battles well. As per his last wishes, let us celebrate his life and works,"
Ngũgĩ was born on January 5, 1938, in the village of Kamiriithu, near Limuru, Kenya. He began his education at Alliance High School and later attended Makerere University in Uganda, where he graduated in 1963 with a degree in English.
He wrote and staged his first play, The Black Hermit, and his other notable works include famous novels like Weep Not, Child (1964), The River Between (1965), and A Grain of Wheat (1967), among many others.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o has left a significant legacy in African literature. His novels such as Petals of Blood, Matigari, and Wizard of the Crow are read worldwide and are used in educational curricula for teaching.