In case you missed it, Monday was Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s birthday or as this toddler I know (OK, its really me), it was his “happy birthday.” Kenya’s most famous literary son was born on 5 January 1938 in Kamiriithu, near Limuru, Kiambu County, the fifth child of the third of his father’s four wives. So that makes him 77 years old this year.
Many did their bit to celebrate this author who was initially known as “James Ngugi” before he went fully native African by dumping his Christian name and adopting “Ngugi Wa Thiongo”. We had some Johnny Walker whiskey in my household to celebrate the big day.
There were other tributes. One of them was by Okey Ndibe the Nigerian novelist who is currently wowing everyone with his book Foreign Gods Inc. His other book is Arrows of Rain.
The Nigerian celebrated the birthday man (birthday boy and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o in the same sentence seems a bit off) with the following tribute;
“Today is the birthday of one of my favorite writers–who happens to be, quite simply, a marvelous person: Ngugi wa Thiong’o. May he enjoy many more years of creative excellence and service to humanity.”
We feel you Bwana Ndibe.
