Ngūgī wa Thiong'o, born 1938 in Limuru, Kenya, is one of the most important writers in Africa. After attending a mission school, he studied at Makerere University College in Kampala, Uganda, and at the University of Leeds in Great Britain. There he began his career as a writer. In 1977 wa Thiong'o was arrested and held without charge for one year. Under President Daniel arap Moi, his books and plays were banned. In 1982 wa Thiong'o had to leave his home country and went into exile in London. Today he lives in California.