by Ngugi wa Thiong’o

Who Are the Kikuyu People?
Ngugi wa Thiong’o comes from the Kikuyu people, Kenya’s largest ethnic group. This site contains an overview of the Kikuyu people. Read the descriptive material and explore the links, including the link to hear and see words in Kikuyu. Then create a chart with four headings: population, languages, occupations, and location in Kenya. Under each heading, write a brief, explanatory description of the Kikuyu people.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Ngugi wa Thiong’o declares that language provides a way for people to understand themselves. Visit this site for an analysis of Thiong’o writing in his native language rather than English. What principal reason does Thiong’o give for writing in his native language? Explore the language link on the site and read the second section concerning Salman Rushdie’s opposing viewpoint on language. Conduct a class debate over this issue: should a writer use his or her local language or a national language?