New Books

On Monday 15th January 2007, East African Educational Publishers colourfully launched Professor Ngugi wa Thiong'o's two novels, Murogi wa Kagogo Mbuku ya Kana, Gatano na Gatandatu (the third and final Gikuyu instalment of the novel) and its English translation, Wizard of the Crow in Taifa Hall at the University of Nairobi.

The much-awaited book ranked No. 3 on the Time Magazine's Bestseller List (2006) while the economist rated it among the world's Top Ten Books of 2006. Wizard of the Crow, a runaway hit that topped the Sunday Nation's Bestseller list in the week of its launch, has attracted positive acclaim from all corners of the world. That it is a book like no other is borne out by the fact that it was first written in Gikuyu and was undeniably the biggest book in any African language, barring only the bible. Its satirical tone creatively lays bare the spectre of dictatorship in Africa (and by extension the Third World in general) especially in the 20th Century and more so at the height of the struggle for freedom and political pluralism.

The Washington Post describes the book thus: “…great, spell binding…probably the crowning glory of Ngugi's life's work… Ngugi has turned the power of storytelling into a weapon against totalitarianism.'

UNESCO's Director of Science, Prof. Joseph Massaquoi, who was the Guest of Honour at the launch, described the book as a brilliant milestone in Ngugi's writing career and an image booster to the African continent. He added that Ngugi recognised the centrality of African languages in promoting African socialism.

For the love of books: Novelist Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (right) confers with Dr. Edda Gachukia during the launch of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's latest novel, Wizard of the Crow.

Ngugi described his book as a true reflection of the richness of African languages. He said that Wizard of the Crow, which he first wrote in Gikuyu, explores poor governance, sycophancy and corruption not only in Africa but also in the Third World, especially in the 20th Century.

Get your copy now at the nearest bookshop!

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