Celebrated Kenyan author and academic Ngugi wa Thiong’o was cremated in the United States just days after his passing, honoring his personal wishes despite the practice diverging from traditional Kenyan customs.

Ngugi’s son, Mukoma wa Ngugi, confirmed that the cremation had been explicitly requested by his father. In a statement, he acknowledged that the decision was unconventional within Kenyan culture but emphasized that fulfilling his father’s wishes was a significant way to honor him.

Ngugi passed away at the age of 87 on May 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. Born on January 5, 1938, in Limuru, Kenya, he rose from modest beginnings to become one of Africa’s most influential literary voices. His body of work includes widely acclaimed novels such as The River Between, A Grain of Wheat, Petals of Blood, and Devil on the Cross.

Over the years, Ngugi’s writing evolved into a powerful platform for political expression, often clashing with the authorities in Kenya. In the 1970s, his critique of the government, particularly through theatre and prose led to his arrest and year-long detention. In 1982, after credible threats to his life surfaced, he went into exile, first in the UK and later in the US.

Despite living abroad, Ngugi maintained strong ties to Kenya through his advocacy, academic engagements, and steadfast commitment to writing in African languages. He remained an outspoken critic of political repression and social injustice throughout his life.

Ngugi served as a professor at several leading institutions globally. Before his death, he was based at the University of California, Irvine, as a distinguished professor of English and Comparative Literature. He also previously taught at Yale University, New York University, and Northwestern University. His academic journey began at the University of Nairobi, where he taught English Literature from 1966 to 1977, and he also held a creative writing fellowship at Makerere University in Uganda.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s cremation, though met with surprise by many back home, reflects a deeply personal choice rooted in his values. It marks the close of a life dedicated to truth, justice, and literary excellence, and his legacy will continue to shape African literature and thought for generations to come.