Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, who wrote in his native Gikuyu language, was a prominent figure in African literature. He was often considered for the Nobel Prize. He passed away on May 28th at the age of 87.
In 1977, Ngũgĩ was imprisoned without trial due to his literary and theatrical work. His book, "Decolonizing the Mind," published in 1986, is central to understanding his thought. It explores linguistic politics in African literature.
Ngũgĩ was a key figure in 20th-century African literature. He was a constant name on the Nobel Prize list. He fought against neocolonialism, the continued European dominance in Africa and Asia after formal colonization.
Initially, Ngũgĩ wrote in English, including "A Grain of Wheat" (1967). This novel explores the colonial process in Kenya through the lives of villagers during the Mau Mau Uprising, a resistance movement in the 1950s.
In 1970, he adopted the name wa Thiong'o. From 1980, after being forced into exile, he wrote exclusively in his native Gikuyu language. This was after he was exiled to England and then the United States.
"Decolonizing the Mind" summarizes Ngũgĩ's literary, linguistic, and political ideas. He examines the consequences of neocolonialism and calls for decolonization, particularly in the cultural sphere. He believed that controlling a people's culture is controlling their self-definition.
He recalled how English-language education was the only path to advancement in what he described as an educational pyramid. This pyramid had a broad base in primary education and a small tip in higher education.
The writing in "Decolonizing the Mind" is accessible, almost conversational. It also serves as an invitation to explore his fictional work.