This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
On October 10, 2019, the anticipation was palpable as the world waited for the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Literature. For many Africans, the prize had long been a symbol of recognition for their literary talents, and one name stood out above the rest: Ngugi Wa Thiong'o.
Ngugi, a celebrated Kenyan writer, had been a long-time favourite to win the prize, but year after year, it seemed to slip through his fingers. The first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Nigerian essayist, poet, and playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka, in 1986.
Since then, five Africans have won the prize: Egypt's Naguib Mahfouz in 1988, South Africa's Nadine Gordimer in 1991, and J.M. Coetzee in 2003, and Zimbabwe's Doris Lessing in 2007. However, Ngugi's name continued to be mentioned alongside other potential winners, including Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, and Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk.
When the prize was awarded to American musician Bob Dylan in 2016, many were shocked, and Ngugi's fans were left wondering if the prize would ever come to him. However, Ngugi remained optimistic, saying in an interview with the Financial Times, "a Nobel would be validating but not essential".
Despite not winning the Nobel Prize, Ngugi has continued to be recognized for his work, including his activism on decolonisation, which has resonated with many Africans on the continent. His work has taken him to lecture halls around the world, and he remains one of the most revered writers in Africa.
