From Disillusionment to Defiance Citizens Resistance in Ngugi Wa Thiongo and Ngugi Wa Miriis I Will Marry When I Want


Published in UTUENIKANG - March, 2026

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Abstract

This research examines how Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi wa Mirii’s I Will Marry When I Want portrays the collapse of post-independence expectations in Kenya and the subsequent rise of popular resistance amidst the oppressed. Guided by Frantz Fanon’s revolutionary postcolonial theory, the study explores how political leaders, religious institutions and foreign economic interests reproduce the same patterns of domination associated with the colonial era. The evaluations focuses on how the three frameworks create disillusionment among ordinary citizens whose hopes for freedom and social justice remain unfulfilled. Through a critical reading of the play, the scholarly exploration traces the gradual political awakening of the characters such as Kiguunda and Gikonyo, showing how awareness of exploitation transforms into a determination to challenge unjust authority. The findings reveal that Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi wa Mirii use drama as a weapon to explore the failure of post-independence governance while emphasizing the power of collective action in confronting systemic oppression. The study concludes that the play reflects a broader African reality in which citizens must reclaim the unfinished project of liberation through organized resistance. This study adopts a qualitative content analysis framework.

Keywords: Post-Independent Domination Disillusionment Resistance Liberation

Cataloging & Classification: Bi-annually , Vol.3(1) pp. 117-127

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