Ngugi wa Thiong’o is an author writing in Kenya. He used to write in English, but now writes only in his native Gikuyu language because he is proud of his own country, language and culture. In 1986 he wrote an essay called ‘Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature’. In it he argues that all African writers should write in their own language to celebrate the beauty of their own cultures. He believes this is the only way to establish an African identity. His first book, A Grain of Wheat, was written in English but is about the independence of Kenya from Britain. It is discusses the potential of Kenya as an independent country.

The book begins by looking at the Movement which wanted to make Kenya independent. The book is not optimistic about the future of Kenya to begin with. A character says that “the coming of black rule would not mean, could never mean the end of white power.” At the same time, Ngugi wa Thiong’o sees Kenyans as equal to Europeans. Another character asks “Why do you think Europeans have anything special? They are like everybody else, you or me.” He believes that.

One of the great heroes of the Movement was Kihika. Kihika was killed by the British. On the day of Uhuru, or Independence, the town want Mugo to make a speech because they think he is a war hero. They also want to execute Karanja because they think he betrayed Kihika to the British. It was actually Mugo who betrayed him. Mugo is scared that the truth will come out.

Gikonyo is a businessman who was also in the detention camp with Mugo. While he was imprisoned his wife Mumbi had a baby with Karanja. Gikonyo finds it hard to forgive her and asks “Where is the Mumbi I left behind?”.

In the end it is by being honest and accepting that the characters become at peace. Gikonyo is told “let us see what profit it will bring you, to go on poisoning your mind with these things when you should have accepted and sought how best to build your life.” Being angry at his wife for what she did is poisoning them both. He discovers that “He only wanted to see him Mumbi and take up the thread of his life where he had left it”. When they move on they can both be happier.

Mugo realises that he must be honest and admit that he betrayed Kihika. He does this on the day of Uhuru and feels at peace with himself.

All the characters act the way they do because they are afraid that their “identity even in death would be wiped from the surface of the earth”. When it becomes independent, Kenya has an uncertain future. But to build a future you must make peace with the past; “life was only a constant repetition of what happened yesterday and the day before”. It is also important that the people have a strong community and do not lie or compete with each other because “a people united in faith are stronger than the bomb”.

So even though it is about betrayal, A Grain of Wheat ends with hope. When the characters are honest with each other they can start to work together. Like growing a field of wheat, first you must plant a grain. This book is about planting the grains of an independent and proud Kenya.