A Grain of Wheat-By James Ngugi Wa Thiong'o

Introduction :-

A Grain of Wheat is a novel by Kenyan novelist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o first published as part of the influential Heinemann African Writers Series. ‘A Grain of Wheat’ is a short but noticeable novel, having only a one main incident. It was come under South African Literature. It was written in 1967. It was written by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. It contains some historical events in it. It was very firstly represented as events in this novel. It was also known as Kenyan novel, too.

About The Author:

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan writer, formerly working in English and now working in Gikuyu. His work includes novels, plays, short stories, and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children's literature. He is the founder and editor of the Gikuyu-language journal Mũtĩiri.

A Grain of Wheat is one of the great novel written by Kenyan writer namely Ngugi Wa Thiong’o. This novel published in 1967. This is a story about events and relationships leading up to a country’s struggle for independence, and the story, focusing on the quite Mugo, whose life is ruled by a dark secret.

In this novel A Grain of Wheat writer has presented for the first time an African perspective on the Kenyan armed revolt against British Colonial rule during the 1950s. This novel marked Ngugi’s break with cultural nationalism and also his embarking of Fanonist Marxism. The title of the novel refers to the Biblical theme of Self-sacrifice, a part of the new birth!

“Unless A Grain of Wheat die”

It is an allegorical story of one man’s mistaken heroism and a search for the betrayer of a Mau Mau leader. Many of the critics have also praised the work and role of Ngugi as an influential Post-Colonial African written, particularly in his portrayal of corrupt post-liberation African Government.

This novel A Grain of Wheat is divided into three eras that are;

-Pre- Colonial

-Post-Colonial

-Colonial

The story of this novel is center around the character Mugo. The plot revolves around his home village’s preparation for Kenya’s Independence day celebration, “Uhuru day”. On that day, former resistance fighters General R. and Koinandu plan on publicly executing the traitor who betrayed Kihika. The entire novel tells about the history of Kenya and the Mau Mau revolt.

A Grain of Wheat was a turning point in the formal and ideological of his works. This text is multi-narrative liens and multi-viewpoints unfolding at different times and spaces replace the linear temporal unfolding of the plot form a single viewpoint. The collective replaces the individual as the center of history.

Here Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o tried to give very powerful voice to her female character like, Mumbi. Without her presence this novel seems very dull or lack of interest.