02/06/2025
Maitũ njuu, maitũ njuu, ndoigĩirwo mbu nĩ mũka wokabi.
Na tĩri, na tĩri ngĩitĩrĩria thakame….
These words reverberated in the labyrinth of my soul as I read of the passing of Prof Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o on Thursday evening.
This was part of the opening act of “Maitũ njugĩra” which was scheduled to commence at the Kenya National Theatre in the next few days in 1982.
A friend of mine, Cris Njũgũna, called me and intimated that the scheduled KNT performance may not take place but we could watch a full dress rehearsal ( at Ed II or at one of the halls at the British Council building next to KNT).
Off we went eager to grab a few bites of wisdom and history of our people. I can still vividly recall Thūkũmũ Kanorũ in his well starched Khaki attire ( shamba coat,shorts and knee length socks)…..
I first encountered Prof Ngũgĩ at age 14 in second form through his first novel, Weep not Child, and have endeavored to read as many of his books as I can lay my hands on. I vividly recall Abdallah and his entourage in Petals of blood, and the characters in Caitani mũtharaba-inĩ and the other books.
Professor Ngũgĩ’s philosophy has been transformative to a whole generation of Kenyans, the baby boomers (et al), and has inculcated a sense of deep inquiry into our colonial history and our cultural heritage.
Fare thee well Prof Ngũgĩ, we shall remember you.
Ũromama kwega kuraga.
