US-Based Kenyan Author Ngugi wa Thiong’o Awarded in Catalonia
US-based Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has been awarded the Premi Internacional Catalunya prize for his efforts in safeguarding African traditions, culture, and languages.
Ngugi was feted by the Catalonia government during the 31st Catalonia International Prize awards presided over by the President of Catalonia, Quim Torra on Thursday.
Ngugi in his acceptance speech delivered in his native Kikuyu language said he received the news about the award in December 2019 when he was in a hospital bed after undergoing heart surgery in California.
“Just before they took me to the operating room, I wrote a will. Hence, when I received the news that I had been feted, I felt alive again, like I was being celebrated in the land of the living. I was so happy that tears were balancing in my eyes,” Ngugi said.
The award-winning Kenyan writer trounced 74 other candidates from 35 different countries to scoop the prize.
Others who received the award are Bishop Desmond Tutu (South Africa), Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, Egyptian feminist Nawal al Sa Dawy, Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, American-British philosopher Karl Popper among others.
Some of Ngugi’s novels include Weep Not Child, A Grain of Wheat, The River Between, Petals of Blood, Caitaani Mutharaba-ini, and Mũrogi wa Kagogo.
Comments (5)
Ngugi, Congratulations. I take off my hat for you.
Saving african culture from miles away. Congratulations. You are a great cultural warrior while all we have here a cultural pretenders masquerading as elders.
Ndugu Ngugi Wa Thiong'o:
Nakuheshimu sana kwa kukuza lugha ya asili yako ya "Gigikuyu" kuwa ni lugha inayojulikana nje ya Kenya pamoja na Kiswahili. Wewe ni Mkenya wa kwanza kutumia lugha yako ya asili kwenye kongomano iliyo nje ya nchi ya Kenya. Nakuheshimu pia kwa kutupilia mbali imani ya kigeni isiyo na uhusiano wowote na asili yako. Nakuvulia kofia ya heshima kwa kutupa jina lako bandia la kikoloni na kuchukua majina ya asili yako. HONGERA SANA NDUGU NGUGI WA THIONG'O.
Ni muhimu tujue ya kwamba, mtu akikutawala, kwanza anakudharau na kukufanyia mabaya yafuatayo baada ya kukuondolea utu wako:
1. Kwanza, anakupa majina yake ya asili
2. Pili, anakupa lugha yake na kuua lugha yako, mwishowe
unaona haya/aibu kusema lugha ya asili yako au
kuwafundisha watoto wako Kiswahili au lugha yako
ya asili.
3. Tatu, anakupa dini yake na kudharau dini yako
ya asili
4. Nne, anakupa mila zake na kudharau kila kitu
kinachotokana na asili yako
5. Tano, anakupa historia yake na kuua historia yako
6. Sita, anakuuzia nguo zake ambazo tayari ameshazivaa
na hazipendi wala kuzivaa (mitumba) tena.
7. Saba, anakufundisha kuchukia nywele zako za asili
yako na kukuuzia nywele bandia (wig) zinazofanana na
nywele zake
8. Anakufundisha kuichukia rangi ya ngozi yako halafu
anakuuzia kemikali za kugeuza rangi ya ngozi yako ili
ifanane na ngozi yake. Kemikali hizi zinaleta
ugonjwa wa saratani (cancer) ya ngozi yako
9. Anakufundisha kuchukia hata chakula kizuri na
vinjwaji vya asili yako na kukuuzia takataka kama
chakula kinachodhuru afya yako na kukufanya
unenepe kama nguruwe.
10. Anakufundisha kuvuta sigara ambayo inawaua watu wasio
pungua milioni nane (8) duniani kila mwaka.
11. Mwishowe anakudharau kabisa kwa sababu hakuoni wewe
kama binadamu kama yeye kwa sababu ya kuishi maisha
bandia yanayokupotezea utu (humanity) wako.
Kenya needs a street named after Ngugi..
CONGRATULATIONS.
I've great respect fir Ngugi. Lakini l have a quarrel na hiyo matogozi yako @imara...One word and l'm thru...What has what language had Ngugi been using when teaching white boys and girls?