European and African Literary Traditions in Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s Wizard of the Crow

Abstract

This chapter examines Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's (1938–) Wizard of the Crow. Combining African and Western traditions to make something new, Ngũgĩ's incorporates Kenyan political history and Gikuyu folktales into the European and international form of the postmodern novel. By writing from a sort of exile to his own people, he also addresses a worldwide audience. The chapter discusses Ngũgĩ's incorporation of African history and traditional stories and storytelling methods into the form of the Western novel. Then it considers the political plot, focusing on the figure of the Ruler. Finally, the chapter turns to the plot of love and resistance, discussing Nyawĩra and Kamĩtĩ in turn.