A lot has been written about Ngugi Wa Thiong’o since he departed this world. Prof Ngugi was a social colossus, and many generations have gotten succour through his emotional and social intelligences.
I first met Ngugi, figuratively, as a young lad in Kolanya Boys High School, Busia. As a Form One student, it was my first time to visit a library. All types of books relevant to secondary school students and more, were available. The library was opened throughout the day except on Sunday morning. There was no better place to pass time than in the library.
Ngugi was a critical thinker. To him, writing was not just a hobby, but a passion. The resilience and focus of mind that characterised Ngugi’s life is something that we should emulate. Ngugi’s life is a testimony to, first, emotional intelligence. Second, Social intelligence. He was empathic and a man of the people. He experienced their suffering and thought of ways of how to extricate them from societal ills and oppression. Today we are what we are as a community because of our social colossus; a man who lived ahead of his times!
Although born in the 20th century, Ngugi was a native of the 21st century in word and practice. This should inform our celebration of his life and times. To honour this icon, we should embrace the 21st skills and values.
These features are under threat from governments, institutions and individuals today. Wherever you go in the world, attempts at reversing the gains of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially aspects that are unpalatable to the powers-that-be or the dominant voices in the community, are in high gear.
Society of thieves
The broad division of the 21st century skills of learning and innovation, digital literacy, and life and career skills are either under threat or plans are afoot on how to stop their enjoyment. On the other end of the spectrum are the core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, peace, cooperation and industry.
We have become self-centred and disciples of avarice. Many do not care about the ethics of their actions. Ours has become a society of thieves, liars, idlers and crooks. We lie with all corners of our mouths. Many spend time scheming how to bring others down. This has become our major pre-occupation and is the source of our current suffering.
As a society, we have become a laughing stock. Most of the gains that we had made since the struggle against the colonialists through the independent regimes are under threat. This is sad because these were what Ngugi stood for throughout his life. It is hard in our society today to differentiate the oppressor from the oppressed, crusaders from the pacifists, victims from villains or critics from apologists. The lines are really blurred. The society teems with turncoats and unprincipled quislings and charlatans.
It is against this background that we should honour Ngugi by embracing the 21st century skills and values that he stood for. I know many of these are inscrutable to most of us now, but this should not make us give up. We should soldier on. Let’s bring changes to better our life. We should focus on all that Ngugi stood for as we detect any humbug from whichever quarter and call it out for what it is.
Dr Ndaloh is a teacher educator at Koitaleel Samoei University College
By Agumba Ndaloh