Teachers and Students Honour Ngũgĩ’s Literature

Tributes continued to pour in across Tanzania on Thursday following the death of renowned Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who passed away in the United States on Wednesday at the age of 87. The celebrated novelist and academic left an enduring legacy on Africa’s literary and educational landscape, particularly in East Africa.

In Tanzania, where his works have been a staple of literature curricula in both secondary schools and universities, students, educators, and authors described Ngũgĩ as a “literary father” whose voice championed cultural pride, critical consciousness, and African identity.

“His books taught us to think deeply about colonialism, social injustice, and the importance of our heritage,” said Ms. Lyn Nana Royal, a journalist in Dar es Salaam.
“We grew up reading Weep Not, Child and A Grain of Wheat — stories that remain relevant to our lives today.”

Ngũgĩ’s novels, including The River Between, Petals of Blood, and Devil on the Cross, have shaped generations of Tanzanian students. His writing, marked by its exploration of post-colonial struggles and rooted in indigenous languages and perspectives, has featured prominently in the Form Three and Form Four syllabi for decades.

Literature graduates across the country reflected on their academic journeys with reverence for Ngũgĩ’s influence.

“As a literature student, I read all of Ngũgĩ’s books. Today, I stand proudly as a journalist, applying the critical thinking his works instilled in me,” said one Tanzanian writer.

Publishers and educators alike have lauded Ngũgĩ’s efforts to decolonize African literature, notably through his decision to write in Kikuyu and Swahili in later years. His stance inspired a broader discourse around language, identity, and power in African storytelling.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s passing marks the end of an era, but his literary voice continues to resonate — in classrooms, in bookshelves, and in the hearts of readers across the continent.