The passing of acclaimed Kenyan writer and scholar Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o on May 28, 2025, marks the end of a pivotal era for African literature and the African literary revolution that began in the mid-20th century.

• Ngũgĩ’s work, alongside other prominent African writers, used imagination to challenge colonial systems and define a post-independence African identity.
• He was a delegate at the influential 1962 Conference of African Writers, where he signaled the promise of future African literary development.
• His prolific career, including novels like The River Between and A Grain of Wheat, explored themes of decolonization, postcolonial challenges, and global African identity, notably transitioning from English to Gĩkũyũ.