African Literary Giant Ngugi Wa Thiongo Falls.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a literary titan, has passed away, Leaving behind a legacy of African voices raised.
In Kenya's land, a writer did stand,
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a name so grand,
A titan of African literature, he did stride,
Refusing to be bound, he wrote with pride.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a name so grand,
A titan of African literature, he did stride,
Refusing to be bound, he wrote with pride.
He documented his country's change,
From colonial rule to a democratic range,
Six decades of work, a legacy so bright,
A Nobel Prize, always in sight.
From colonial rule to a democratic range,
Six decades of work, a legacy so bright,
A Nobel Prize, always in sight.
But the medal slipped through his fingers each time,
Fans were dismayed, yet his work did shine,
Not just a writer, but a fierce advocate too,
For literature in African languages, his spirit anew.
Fans were dismayed, yet his work did shine,
Not just a writer, but a fierce advocate too,
For literature in African languages, his spirit anew.
Born James Thiong'o Ngũgĩ in 1938's year,
Under British rule, his life did appear,
In Limuru town, a large family did thrive,
Low-income workers, but Ngũgĩ's dreams did strive.
Under British rule, his life did appear,
In Limuru town, a large family did thrive,
Low-income workers, but Ngũgĩ's dreams did strive.
He attended Alliance, a boarding school so fine,
Run by British missionaries, a colonial bind,
But Ngũgĩ's heart remained with his native land,
And the Mau Mau uprising, a story to expand.
Run by British missionaries, a colonial bind,
But Ngũgĩ's heart remained with his native land,
And the Mau Mau uprising, a story to expand.
His brother Gitogo, fatally shot in the back,
For refusing to comply, a heartbreaking fact,
Ngũgĩ's life was touched, in numerous ways so sad,
But his writing continued, a legacy to be had.
For refusing to comply, a heartbreaking fact,
Ngũgĩ's life was touched, in numerous ways so sad,
But his writing continued, a legacy to be had.
He left for Uganda, to study and to grow,
At Makerere University, his writing did flow,
Weep Not, Child, his debut novel so grand,
Released in 1964, a critical acclaim to stand.
At Makerere University, his writing did flow,
Weep Not, Child, his debut novel so grand,
Released in 1964, a critical acclaim to stand.
A Grain of Wheat and The River Between, more novels did follow,
Ngũgĩ's name was known, as one of Africa's outstanding writers to poll,
But in 1977, a change did occur,
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a name free from colonial allure.
Ngũgĩ's name was known, as one of Africa's outstanding writers to poll,
But in 1977, a change did occur,
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a name free from colonial allure.
He dropped English, to write in Kikuyu's tongue,
A bold move, but his passion did not go wrong,
Petals of Blood, a novel that did attack,
The new leaders of Kenya, a class struggle to react.
A bold move, but his passion did not go wrong,
Petals of Blood, a novel that did attack,
The new leaders of Kenya, a class struggle to react.
In prison, he wrote Devil on the Cross, a story so bold,
On toilet paper, his words did unfold,
A year in jail, but his spirit did not break,
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a writer, his legacy to make.
On toilet paper, his words did unfold,
A year in jail, but his spirit did not break,
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a writer, his legacy to make.
Years of exile, in the UK and the US did pass,
But Ngũgĩ returned, a hero's welcome to amass,
But the homecoming was marred, by violence and pain,
Ngũgĩ's life, a story of struggle, but his writing remained.
But Ngũgĩ returned, a hero's welcome to amass,
But the homecoming was marred, by violence and pain,
Ngũgĩ's life, a story of struggle, but his writing remained.