The late Kenyan novelist and activist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who died in May at the age of 87, devoted much of his life to challenging the dominance of European languages in African literature and education. His landmark 1986 work, 'Decolonising the Mind', argued that erasing indigenous languages was the most lasting weapon of colonial oppression.
Ngũgĩ, originally given the Christian name James by British missionaries, later reclaimed his Kikuyu identity. His first novel, 'Weep Not, Child', was published under 'James Ngugi'. He wrote and published in Kikuyu, translating his works into English only subsequently. A committed Marxist, he witnessed police brutality against striking miners while studying in Leeds in the 1960s, which shaped his understanding of class oppression.
The author endured exile and imprisonment in Kenya, penning his novel 'Devil on the Cross' on prison toilet paper. He noted that authorities ignored his English writings but arrested him when he wrote politically critical plays in Kikuyu that ordinary people could understand. At the 2015 Pen World Voices festival, he chose to stay with other African writers rather than in more luxurious accommodation.
Ngũgĩ’s work has inspired growing global interest in decolonisation and unequal power relationships between languages. He highlighted parallels with the situation of the Irish language, which remains subordinate to English despite revival efforts. The Gaelic League, founded in 1893, aimed to revive Irish, but iconic Irish writers like Yeats and Joyce wrote in English and are studied as part of English literature.
Ngũgĩ believed that language is central to identity and liberation. As he once stated, 'Take away our language and we will forget who we are.' His legacy continues to influence writers and activists worldwide.
