A tribute to the giant of African literature Ngugi wa Thiong'o

Ngugi wa Thiong'o can easily be called the Chinua Achebe of Eastern Africa or Shakespeare of the same, but with less inclination to plays.For decades, he defined our literature in school and leisure reading.

His books had catchy titles; The River Between, Petals of Blood, A Grain of Wheat and Gíkúyú titles like Caitani Mutharabainî (Devil on the Cross) or Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want).

We can't forget Matigari ma Njirúngi, loosely translated from deep Gíkúyú, bullet survivors.It's his affinity for writing in Gíkúyú that sets him apart from other writers.

Some suggest that is why a Nobel Prize in literature escaped him.  Few can deny that writing in a local language was boldness; he was a rebel with a cause.