Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Son Recounts Tense Last Conversation with Him after Tweet on Mum's Abuse
- Professor Mukoma wa Ngugi revealed that his 2024 tweet on his father physically abusing his mother during his childhood put a strain on their relationship
- Mukoma said the viral post created a “fracture” in their relationship, and their last conversation was "contentious" and not amicable
- In the emotional 2024 tweet, Mukoma recounted witnessing his father allegedly beat his mother and shared the lasting impact those experiences had on him
- Despite the tension, Mukoma said he loved his father and is mourning his loss, acknowledging that “all of us have our contradictions"
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Late Kenyan author Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's son, Professor Mukoma Ngugi, has opened up on the aftermath of his 2024 tweet in which he alleged that his dad physically abused his mum.
Source: Facebook
In an emotional post made in 2024 on X, Mukoma claimed his father allegedly beat up his mother during his childhood, further sharing painful memories from the experience.
Speaking to TV47, Professor Mukoma revealed that his father was displeased when the post came out and went viral on social media.
"At some point, I sent out a tweet and said that he was abusive to my mother. So this created a fracture between us. I can say now frankly that our last conversation was contentious. It was not the most amicable parting of ways," he disclosed.
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How Mukoma will remember his father
The professor said like in many other family dynamics, his last days with his father were complicated.
"But that is not how I will remember him. He is my father, and I loved him dearly. I am in pain. All of us have our contradictions and things we do," he added.
Mukoma said his father did not apologise for the alleged mistreatment of his mother, saying the author came from traditional ideals that may have shaped his inability to fully acknowledge the harm he may have caused his mother.
"But also, I cannot excuse it. But I also appreciate a lot of the other stuff that he did," he shared.
He shared that he learnt a lot from his father, as he would often seek his opinion on some of his manuscripts.
"He would give me his feedback, and if he wrote something, he would also send it to me. These are some of the things I miss about him. Like other fathers play baseball with their children, for us, we played with words," he said, adding that three of his siblings are also writers.
Why Ngugi Wa Thiong'o was cremated
This comes just a day after Ngugi was cremated in the United States.
The author's son disclosed that his farewell was carried out in line with his wishes before his death.
Mukoma disclosed that, though cremation is not in line with Kenyan traditions, the author requested the family to follow through, describing it as daring.
"I am me because of him in so many ways, as his child, scholar and writer. I love him - I am not sure what tomorrow will bring without him here. I think that is all I have to say for now," Mukoma wrote on X.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
