A new collection of literary criticism and brilliant insights from one of the giants of contemporary thinking


Who owns language? In Decolonizing Language and Other Revolutionary Ideas, Ngugi wa Thiong’o presents a series of essays that build on his vast wealth of work on language and its constructive role in national culture, history, and identity. Intricate, nuanced and accessible, it reaffirms the revolutionary power of African languages to fight back against both the psychic and material impacts of colonialism, past and present.

With immense relevance to our present moment, Decolonizing Language and Other Revolutionary Ideas is a brilliant distillation of the enduring themes of Ngugi’s work and a vital addition to the library of one of the world’s greatest and most provocative writers.

One of the greatest writers of our time -- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A giant of African writing * Guardian *
One of Africa's greatest writers * New York Times *
A visionary writer * Daily Telegraph *
Ngugi wa Thiong’o is a revolutionary * Paris Review *
One of Kenya's greatest storytellers * Financial Times *

Ngugi is the most celebrated of African novelists. What he offers is nothing less than a new
direction for African writing

Ngugi wa Thiong’o (1938-2025) was born in Limuru, Kenya, and went on to become one of the leading writers and scholars of our times. He authored numerous works of fiction, memoir and essay, including A Grain of Wheat, Devil on the Cross and Decolonizing the Mind. Ngugi was the Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine; he held fourteen honorary doctorates, among other awards, and was nominated for the Man Booker International Prize.