orig. James Thiong'o Ngugi
born Jan. 5, 1938, Limuru, Kenya
Kenyan novelist.
Educated in Uganda and England, he wrote the first major novel in English by an East African; the popular Weep Not, Child (1964) is the story of a family drawn into the struggle for Kenyan independence. His other novels include A Grain of Wheat (1967) and Petals of Blood (1977). As he became more sensitive to the effects of colonialism, he adopted his traditional name and wrote in the Bantu language of the Kikuyu people. He also wrote plays and numerous essays on literature, culture, and politics.