The University of Nairobi will on Friday host a major memorial event for literary giant Ngugi wa Thiong’o, which his family has described as the “official” celebration of his life in Kenya.

The full-day event, titled The Life and Works of Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o, will take place at Taifa Hall — the same venue where Ngugi addressed students in 1978 after his release from prison.

The programme includes readings from his books, performances of his plays, traditional songs and dances, and tributes from family, colleagues, publishers and fans. Actors from the original cast of Ngaahika Ndeenda (I Will Marry When I Want), which he co-wrote with Ngugi wa Mirii, are also expected to perform.

“This event is for the people of Kenya, the African continent, and admirers from across the globe,” said Dr Nducu wa Ngugi, the family spokesperson and executive director of the Ngugi wa Thiong’o Foundation.

Ngugi died on May 28 in Buford, Georgia in the United States, aged 87. His family later announced that he would not have a formal burial, in line with his wishes. Instead, they would hold public remembrance events.

His son Prof Mukoma wa Ngugi confirmed that the author’s body was cremated.

Speaking at a June 7 celebration in Atlanta, Dr Nducu said, “We have been fully committed to fulfilling Fafa’s last wishes, not ours; his wishes. All of them. And what we have done thus far is what he instructed us to do; those of us who have been there with him.”

During the Atlanta gathering at Akazi Gallery, no coffin or physical remains were present — only a photo of Ngugi projected on a screen. In what seemed to respond to public curiosity, Dr Nducu added, “Let me just say that all the information and inquiries that concern the Ngugi family will come from me, through me as a family spokesman and not from any other source.”

Kiarie Kamau, CEO of East African Educational Publishers (EAEP) which has published Ngugi’s books since 1965, described the Friday event as the climax of a long-running celebration of the writer’s life.

“We have lined up quite a number of activities. The programme is packed,” he said. “We will try as much as possible to break monotony. That is why the readings of excerpts from his books will be there. They will not just be read in a boring way.”

Kiarie, who also chairs the Kenya Publishers Association, said some of Ngugi’s family members, including his firstborn son Thiong’o (alias Tee) Ngugi, will attend in person, while others will join virtually.

Prof Miriam Wangu Maranga-Musonye, chair of the Department of Literature at UoN, which Ngugi once headed, said it was fitting to hold the celebration at the university.

“The department was home to Ngugi wa Thiong’o. I would say maybe to some extent a troubled home, but it was still his home,” she said. “I was fortunate enough to connect with Ngugi just three days before he died. It was clear that he still held the Department of Literature very dear to his heart.”

Both Kiarie and Prof Musonye said the choice of Taifa Hall was intentional. “It has a huge capacity. The function is open to everyone. Every Kenyan is free to come and celebrate this giant of African literature who has put Kenya on the world map,” said Kiarie.

In addition to the Nairobi tribute, the family is planning two more events in honour of Ngugi: one at the University of California, Irvine, in November — where he taught — and a private family celebration at their rural home in Gitogothi, Limuru, on a later date.