By Gĩtaũ wa Kũng’ũ
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was more than a writer—he was a revolutionary thinker, a Dreamweaver, a prophet whose resistance, exile, and defiance against linguistic imperialism became a guiding light for African generations reclaiming their lost heritage. His work sought to free African minds from colonial chains, advocating for linguistic sovereignty to ensure African stories were told authentically, in African voices.
Yet, upon his passing, many African leaders offered little more than dry eulogies—hollow tributes on social media with no action behind their words. Prof. Peter Kagwanja, a distinguished, geopolitical genius, government policy advisor and scholar of the Agĩkũyũ culture, mourned Ngũgĩ’s death as the fall of a mighty Mũgumo tree, lamenting that Kenya had failed to honor its greatest intellectuals in their lifetime. Perhaps, as history often shows, they will only be appreciated posthumously.
Ngũgĩ’s vision inspired the Honia-Heal Afrika Initiative (HAI), a movement committed to healing Africa’s wounds by addressing the scars of postcolonial trauma. Like the Honia River in The River Between, his words nourish generations, providing intellectual renewal for those who seek a decolonized Africa unburdened by imperial legacies.
Language as Liberation
Ngũgĩ framed translation as an act of healing in The Language of Languages, emphasizing that African languages should converse without colonial mediation. He wrote:
“Writing in an African language is an act of defiance. It is a way of reconnecting with one’s roots, a refusal to be silenced.”
Inspired by Ngũgĩ’s wisdom, a petition was sent to the Murang’a County Assembly, demanding a Pan-African Language and Culture Policy to protect and preserve Gĩkũyũ linguistics. However, no response has been forthcoming. The petition urged legislation to correct indigenous names that have been distorted by colonial influences.
How is it that Murang’a—the county considered the cradle of the Agĩkũyũ—is officially written without its correct accent: Mũrang’a? How did the Agĩkũyũ people come to refer to themselves by the colonial misnomer “Kikuyu,” a name imposed by outsiders—just as other racially derogatory terms were imposed on marginalized communities elsewhere?
A Future Without Linguistic Erasure
Ngũgĩ fiercely opposed the dominance of English and French in African education, warning that linguistic erasure leads to cultural amnesia. To truly honor him, Kenya must integrate his works into the national syllabus—not as supplementary readings, but as foundational texts.
Languages evolve over time—Greek, Latin, and Sumerian once thrived but are now relics. Ngũgĩ envisioned a future where African nations would not need colonial languages to communicate. He imagined an Africa where Swahili, Gĩkũyũ, Amharic, Yoruba, Zulu, Berber, and other indigenous tongues attained global recognition.
Who decided that Africans must forever rely on English, French, or Spanish while African languages remain confined to local dialects? Language, like nature, evolves according to principles of natural selection.
Rethinking African Education
Imagine a Kenyan curriculum where students engage deeply with The River Between, Devil on the Cross, Petals of Blood, and other powerful literary works—not simply as literature, but as blueprints for resisting neocolonialism, as tools for critical thought, as reflections of society’s ongoing struggles.
Ngũgĩ wrote:
“Language carries memory. Without memory, history is erased. Without history, identity fades.”
To erase African languages in education is to erase African identity.
Institutionalizing Ngũgĩ’s Legacy
Honoring Ngũgĩ requires more than celebrating his works—it demands institutional action. Kenya must champion a Pan-African Language Policy that:
– Institutionalizes translation efforts, enabling African nations to communicate in indigenous languages while creating jobs in translation and publishing.
– Establishes translation hubs, ensuring legal, historical, and scientific knowledge is accessible across linguistic communities.
– Revitalizes African language education, grounding future generations in their cultural heritage.
– Promotes African history and cultural preservation, ensuring that indigenous languages thrive not just through conservation but through development.
Beyond Mourning: How to Honour Prof
Ngũgĩ’s words, like the Honia River, will continue nourishing, healing, and inspiring those who dare to imagine an Africa free from colonial burdens. His fight was never for mere remembrance—it was for transformation.
Let this tribute not remain confined to mourning but inspire tangible action. If Kenya and Africa truly wish to honor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, we must go beyond eulogies and institutionalize his vision. His fight was for systemic change; let his legacy be built on action, not sentiment.
(The writer is a Moi University student, founder Honia-Heal Afrika Initiative (HAI) and Regional Research and Policy Officer for Commonwealth Youth Council-CYC Africa Back Office).
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