Nairobi: In the wake of the passing of renowned Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiongo on May 28, 2025, literary circles are reflecting on his significant yet complex influence in French-speaking Africa. Known for his transition from writing in English to his native Kikuyu, Ngugi’s works have sparked discussions on language and colonialism across the continent.
According to Global Voices, Ngugi wa Thiongo’s literary journey began in a colonial Kenya, where he was born in 1983. His career spanned roles as a writer, university researcher, and journalist, taking him across Uganda and London. In a pivotal shift during the late 1970s, Ngugi opted to write in Kikuyu, forsaking English for his prose through the 1980s. Despite his exile in London and later California due to political persecution, he continued to produce seminal essays and plays. Though he returned to Kenya in 2004, a violent attack left a lasting impact on his life and career. Ngugi passed away in the United States, leaving behind a legacy of challenging colonial influences through literature.
Ngugi’s seminal work, “Decolonising the Mind” (1986), addresses the critical choice of language for post-colonial African authors, describing the English language as a cultural bomb. This discourse has resonated in French-speaking African countries, as noted by Réassi Ouabonzi, also known as Lareus Gangoueus, a Congolese writer based in Paris. In an email interview, Ouabonzi highlighted Ngugi’s powerful statements at the 2019 African Presence event in Paris, where he posed challenging questions about African literature’s identity and the use of Indigenous languages. Ngugi encouraged translators to bridge languages, fostering a pan-African literary culture. Ouabonzi regards Ngugi as an oracle whose insights propelled him to champion African languages in literature.
Despite Ngugi wa Thiongo’s profound impact, his recognition in French-speaking regions remains limited. An article in The Conversation in May 2025 reflects on this modest influence, echoed by the online site En Attendant Nadeau. Togolese writer Sami Tchak, interviewed by Global Voices, noted that Ngugi is often acknowledged for his political messages rather than his literary contributions. Ngugi’s legacy, however, endures in the ongoing discussions on language and identity in African literature.