Renowned literature author Ngugi Wa Thiong'o who passed on May 28. Leaders have mourned him as a great intellect mind. Photo: Wanjiku Wa Thiong'o.
The country was thrown into mourning after the announcement of renowned author Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, whose death was announced on Wednesday, May 28, late evening by his daughter Wanjiku wa thiong’o that the author rested early that morning.
Leaders from all political walks have mourned the intellectual courage of the author through his art, led by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who described him as a great political animal and a prolific writer, and enjoyed reading his works among them; Caitani Mutharaba-ini, Maitu Njugira, Ngahika Ndeenda, Mùrogi Wa Kagogo, and Petals of Blood.
“If a literary genius ever lived who has inspired my world of literary language and communication, may it be the use of symbolism, figurative language, metaphors, metonymy, poetry, that genius is Prof. Ngùgì Wa Thiong’o. His inspiration to me went beyond the classroom into my political world,” Gachagua mourned.
Wiper Part Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has also mourned the fallen author as an exceptional mind, whose art described leadership crisis in East Africa in literature forms, that were translated to over 100 languages in the world.
“Prof. Thiong’o was an exceptional mind, one of the finest not just in Kenya and Africa – more often described as East Africa’s leading novelist – but renowned across the world. His works, including the internationally acclaimed “River Between”, “A Grain of Wheat”, and “Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature”, were rites of passage. One of his works, a short story titled “The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright”, was translated into over 100 languages,” Musyoka wrote in his tribute.
ODM Party leader Raila Odinga mourned Nguigi Wa Thiong’o as a giant of Africa.
The tributes from Kenyans mourning the author, with many being examined on his great piece of art ‘The River Between’, have described Ngugi as a great intellect that spearheaded change through art.
“The Mugumo tree has fallen – Ngugi wa Thiong‘o. R. I. P,” Prof. Alfred Omenya wrote.
“Through Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong‘o words, he gave voice to the oppressed. Through his courage, he challenged systems. He taught us the power of language, memory and resistance. His stories live on in books, classrooms and in the hearts of generations. Rest in Power comrade!” Kongamano La Mapindizi wrote.
“In Colonial conquest, language did to the mind what machetes did to the bodies of the colonized.” –Ngugi Wa Thiong’o Rest in Peace, legend,” Books Festival mourned.
