Detained: A Writer's Prison Diary

Detained: A Writer's Prison Diary is a powerful memoir by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, chronicling his year-long detention without trial by the Kenyan government following the production of his radical play in the Gikuyu language. Written on toilet paper while incarcerated, the book goes beyond a daily account to deliver a fierce indictment of the post-colonial Kenyan regime and its neocolonial masters. Ngũgĩ describes the purposeful degradation and psychological torment of prison life, transforming his personal ordeal into a profound exploration of cultural identity, political oppression, and the enduring resilience of the African spirit. It stands as a compelling testament to the power of art and language as a tool for resistance and social change.