Zimbabwe: Ngugi Writes Back to Empire

As Zimbabwe prepares to commemorate 35 years of independence from colonial subjugation, it is pertinent that we examine the work of Ngugi wa Thiongo. The Kenyan author is one of Africa's foremost writers, political activists and an ardent critic of what has become of the continent in the post-colonial era.While Ngugi is most well known for his novels whose common thread is the denunciation of imperialism and neo-colonialism, less attention has been given to his plays, especially "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi", which he co-authored with Micere Githae Mugo and "I Will Marry When I Want" which he co-authored with Ngugi wa Miri.

The two plays are pertinent in four ways. First, "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi" deals with the period leading to the independence of Kenya during the Mau Mau rebellion which culminated in the capture of the militant movement's leader Dedan Waciuri Kimathi and his hanging on February 18 1957. It deals with the revolutionary sacrifices of the Mau Mau and the capitulation of the revolutionary goals by some of Kenyan's nationalist leadership. On the other hand, |I Will Mary When I Want" deals with the post-struggle era when the ideals of the revolution are being betrayed by the nationalist leadership which has marginalised the peasants and workers into the periphery in the making of the new nation-state.

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