PEN America salutes the work of Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

The children of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Mũkoma, Nducu and Wanjiku wa Ngũgĩ, themselves authors, came on stage, this Monday, February 28 at New York City Hall, to receive the award intended for their father , the Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. The PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature salutes all the work of this literary giant.

« It is very special for us to be here to receive the PEN/Nabokov Prize on behalf of our father. It is an opportunity to bring together several generations of storytellers within our family, it summons the stories we grew up with in Kenya, stories of resistance, resilience, legacy and belonging said Nducu wa Ngũgĩ.

Regularly cited among the favorites for the Nobel Literature, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has already been widely celebrated internationally: in 2019 he received the Grand Prix des Mécènes, awarded each year in Cameroon.

In France, among his translated works, let us point out Warriors and Martyrstranslated by Dominique Lanni, and The Trial of Dedan Kimathialso translated by Dominique Lanni, published by Passage(s) editions.

During the ceremony, presented by Seth Meyers, many books and their authors were honored in different categories. American actress, director and screenwriter Elaine May also received a major lifetime achievement award.

Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, took the opportunity to draw the attention of participants and viewers to the defense of freedom of expression and the freedom of readers in the United States, where a wave of censorship has been raging since several months. It particularly targets works addressing themes such as racism, sexual or gender freedom, or written by African-American, Sino-American or even Latinx authors.

At the end of the ceremony, writers also expressed their opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and their support for their colleagues and the Ukrainian people.