The remains of the late Kenyan writer and scholar Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who died aged 87, have been cremated in the United States.
Ngũgĩ passed away on May 28, 2025, at the age of 87 in Buford, Georgia, after battling health issues, including kidney failure, which had necessitated regular dialysis treatments in his later years.
According to his son Mukoma wa Ngũgĩ, the late writer’s remains were cremated as per his wishes.
His family had earlier announced that no formal public burial would be held, per the late literary giant’s final wishes.
Instead, the family said that a series of commemorative events would be held in Kenya and the United States, where Ngũgĩ’s life and work will be celebrated.
“He wished instead to be remembered in spirit, through the ideals he stood for and the lives he touched,” the family said in a statement released on June 1 and signed by Ndūcũ wa Ngũgĩ, one of his sons.
Events to be held in honor of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
The first public event was set to take place in Atlanta, Georgia, on 7 June, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Akazi Gallery.
This will be followed by a gathering at the University of Nairobi to be confirmed and a formal academic celebration at the University of California, Irvine, on November 10.
Also Read: Five Things You Should Know About Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
A private family ceremony is also planned in Gītogothi, Limuru, where Ngũgĩ was born.
Ngũgĩ’s children expressed gratitude for the global outpouring of love and solidarity.
“We thank you for the poems, songs, tributes, and support,” they wrote. “Your words remind us of the reach of his message and the depth of his humanity.”
Ngũgĩ, a towering figure in contemporary African literature and an influential political voice, was born in colonial Kenya in 1938.
Although he began his writing journey in English, he later committed to writing solely in his native Kikuyu, advocating for African languages as vital instruments of liberation.
His renowned novel Devil on the Cross, famously penned on toilet paper during his imprisonment without trial in 1977, stands as a cornerstone of post-colonial African literature.
Over a career spanning nearly six decades, his work chronicled Kenya’s transformation from colonial rule to democracy.
Despite being widely expected to win the Nobel Prize for Literature multiple times, the esteemed professor never received the award, much to the disappointment of his admirers.
Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ announced her father’s death in a Facebook post last week.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, this Wednesday morning, 28th May 2025.
“He lived a full life, fought a good fight. As was his last wish, let’s celebrate his life and his work,” she said.
President Ruto leads tributes as Kenya mourns literary icon
President William Ruto led the country in mourning the death of the celebrated author and scholar, describing him as “Kenya’s greatest man of letters” and “a fearless voice for justice, truth, and African identity.”
Also Read: Today in History: Kenyatta’s Government Arrests Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Detains Him Without Trial
The President praised Ngũgĩ’s bold, creative career that inspired both admiration and challenge.
“I have learnt with deep sadness about the death of our beloved teacher, writer, playwright, and public intellectual, Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. The towering giant of Kenyan letters has put down his pen for the final time,” said Ruto in a statement from State House.
“Always courageous, he made an indelible impact on how we think about our independence, social justice, and the uses and abuses of political and economic power. He showed us how to make contributions that cannot be ignored, and to speak in ways that both supporters and opponents could not dismiss.”
While Ngũgĩ never received the Nobel Prize in Literature, President Ruto said the writer would always remain “the champion of literary emancipation and innovation in our hearts and minds.”
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
