Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, the legendary Kenyan writer, intellectual and fearless critic of injustice, passed away on May 28, 2025. His death marks the end of an era, a literary giant whose pen pierced through colonialism, classism and corruption. But though the man is gone, his words shall live on, burning bright across generations and borders.
One of his most resonant works, I Will Marry When I Want co-written with Ngũgĩ wa Mĩriĩ is more than just a title but a declaration. A cry. A resistance. Originally written as a play in Gikuyu, it explored the exploitation of the working class, the illusion of religion as a cover for greed and the crushing weight of expectations on ordinary lives. Through the characters of Kĩgũũnda and Wangeci, Ngũgĩ exposed the bitter truth of how systems of power manipulate even the most personal decisions like love and marriage.
Today, “I will marry when I want” has found new life beyond the stage. In an age where social pressures still push individuals especially women towards ticking boxes and meeting timelines, this phrase is a shield. A bold refusal to conform. Young people across the continent and beyond are echoing it, unapologetically choosing their own paths whether that means marrying later, never or wholly on their own terms.
Ngũgĩ may have departed but the spirit of his work beats louder than ever in those who resist being rushed, boxed in or silenced. His stories remain rooted in everyday life where dignity, timing, autonomy and love are still being negotiated.
Rest in power, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. You gave us the words. We are still speaking them. And we always will.
TUHAME ❤️
