Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o
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Life
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is currently professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California. He was born in 1938 in Kenya. The Mau Mau war of Independence, a significant event that helped to shape modern Kenya, became a major theme in his early work.
Work
As a scientist, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is primarily interested in the effects of colonial influences on cultures. As a scientist in the postcolonial field, he primarily focusus on language and it's effects on a culture. He is a protagonist of writing in one's mother tongue. He strongly clings to the believe that the colonisers view and writings of the colonial era are not sufficient in understanding this period. African scholars should focus more on African literature, to fully understand the colonial period. Whilst imprisoned, for writing a controversial play, he decided to abandon English as his primary language. From that moment on het started writing in his mother tongue: 'Gikuyu'.
References
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. Retrieved october 24, 2012, from http://www.ngugiwathiongo.com/
Contributers
- SimonTjoonk 15:20, 25 October 2012 (CEST)
- Illustration added by Marjolein Kouwenhoven, october 25th 2012
