I Will Marry When I Want

work by Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi wa Mirii

Also known as: “Ngaahika Ndeenda”

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June 29, 2026

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"I Will Marry When I Want" (Ngaahika Ndeenda) is a play co-written by Kenyan authors Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Ngugi wa Mirii. Originally written in the Kikuyu language, the play critiques capitalism, corruption, and religious hypocrisy within Kenya's post-independence elite. It was developed with agricultural workers and utilized traditional song and dance to voice their grievances, highlighting a perceived betrayal of workers by landowners and politicians. The play's performance led to its banning by authorities and the detention of Ngugi wa Thiong'o. The work is considered a significant example of protest theatre in Kenya, reflecting the struggle against neocolonialism and oppression.12

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Ngugi wa Thiong’o
…in Kikuyu, Ngaahika Ndeenda (1977; I Will Marry When I Want), the performance of which led to his detention for a year without trial by the Kenyan government. (His book Detained: A Writer’s Prison Diary, which was published in 1981, describes his ordeal.) The play attacks capitalism, religious hypocrisy, and…
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…in Kikuyu, Ngaahika Ndeenda (1977; I Will Marry When I Want), the performance of which led to his detention for a year without trial by the Kenyan government. (His book Detained: A Writer’s Prison Diary, which was published in 1981, describes his ordeal.) The play attacks capitalism, religious hypocrisy, and…
Read More