Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
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Summary
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o was born on January 5, 1938[1], in Kamirithu[2]. He died on May 28, 2025[3], in Buford[4]. He worked as a playwright[5], novelist[6], essayist[7], university teacher[8], and philosopher[9]. He ranks in the top 0.68% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (6,181 views/month, #6,804 of 1,000,298).[10]
Key Facts
- Child: Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ[11], Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ[12]
- Country of citizenship: Kenya[13]
- Native language: Gikuyu[14]
- Occupation: writer[15]
- Field of work: literary activity[16], philosophy[17]
- Employer: University of Nairobi[18], New York University[19], University of California, Irvine[20], Northwestern University[21], Yale University[22]
- Educated at: University of Leeds[23], Makerere University[24], Alliance High School[25]
- Notable work: I Will Marry When I Want[26], Matigari ma Njiruungi[27], Weep Not, Child[28], Decolonising the Mind[29], The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright[30], A Grain of Wheat[31], Petals of Blood[32]
- Award received: Doctor honoris causa at University of Bayreuth[33], Lotus Prize for Literature[34], International Nonino Prize[35], honorary doctor of the University of Auckland[36], Grand Prix des mécènes[37], Catalonia International Prize[38]
- Member of: American Academy of Arts and Sciences[39]
- Sex or gender: male[40]
- Commons category: Ngugi wa Thiong'o[41]
- Official website: https://ngugiwathiongo.com[42]
- Work location: United States[43]
- Described by source: Dictionary of African Biography[44], Africa: An Encyclopedic Reference[45]
Why It Matters
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[46] He is known by 25 alternative names across languages and contexts.[47]
He has been cited as an influence by Nnedi Okorafor[48], a novelist[49], b. 1974[50], of United States[51], awarded the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel[52], specialised in creative writing[53].
Works attributed to him include Decolonising the Mind[54], a literary work[55]; Weep Not, Child[56], a literary work[57]; A Grain of Wheat[58], a literary work[59]; and Petals of Blood[60], a literary work[61].
FAQs
Where was Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o born?
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's place of birth was Kamirithu[2].
Where did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o die?
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o passed away in Buford[4].
What did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o do for work?
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o worked as a playwright[5], novelist[6], essayist[7], university teacher[8], and philosopher[9].
Where did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o go to school?
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o was educated at University of Leeds[23], Makerere University[24], and Alliance High School[25].
What awards did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o receive?
Honors received include Doctor honoris causa at University of Bayreuth[33], Lotus Prize for Literature[34], International Nonino Prize[35], and honorary doctor of the University of Auckland[36].
Who did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o influence?
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o has been cited as an influence by Nnedi Okorafor[48].