A Grain of Wheat
Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Publisher: Heinemann
Year Published: 1967
The novel weaves together several stories set during the state of emergency in Kenya's struggle for independence (19521959), focusing on the quiet Mugo, whose life is ruled by a dark secret. The plot revolves around his home village's preparations for Kenya's independence day celebration, Uhuru day. On that day, former resistance fighters General R and Koinandu plan on publicly executing the traitor who betrayed Kihika (a heroic resistance fighter hailing from the village).