Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, born in Kamiriithu, Kenya in 1938, is a distinguished novelist, playwright, and essayist. Renowned for his advocacy of African languages, he writes primarily in Gikuyu and Swahili. His groundbreaking works, such as "Weep Not, Child" and "Petals of Blood," explore themes of colonialism, cultural identity, and social justice. A formidable intellectual voice, Ngũgĩ decolonized his own literature by rejecting English in favor of native languages. His imprisonment for political dissent fueled his memoir, "Detained." As Professor of English and Comparative Literature, he has taught at leading institutions worldwide, influencing generations of writers and scholars.