Take away our language and we will forget who we are: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and the language of conquest episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 10, 2025 · 30 MIN

Take away our language and we will forget who we are: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and the language of conquest

from The Audio Long Read · host The Guardian

The late Kenyan novelist and activist believed erasing language was the most lasting weapon of oppression. Here, Aminatta Forna recalls the man and introduces his essay on decolonisation By Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o with introduction by Aminatta Forna. Read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Aminatta Forna. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Oct 10, 2025

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Take away our language and we will forget who we are: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and the language of conquest

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