Weep Not, Child is the first novel written by Kenyan author Ngugi Wa Thiongo. It was published by Heinemann in 1964 under the name James Ngugi. It was the first English novel to be published by an East African. Ngugi wrote the novel while he was a student of Maskere University. Weep Not, Child is an historical novel with 144 pages, eighteen chapters and divided into two parts. Part one deals with the education of Njoroge (the main character) while part two deals with the rising revolutionary, anti-colonist turmoil in Kenya.
The list of characters includes; Njoroge (main character), Ngotho (Njoroge’s father), Nyokabi and Njeri (the two wives of Ngotho), Boro, Kamau, Kori and Mwangi (Njoroge brothers), Mwihaki (Njoroge’s best friend), Jacobo (Mwihaki’s father), and Mr Howlands (a white Englishman).
The story begins with Njoroge, a young boy, who is urged to attend school by his mother. He is the first of his family to be able to go school. Njoroge’s brother Kamau works as an apprentice to a carpenter, while the eldest Boro is troubled by his experience while in forced service during World war II. The family lives on the land of Jacobo, an African made rich by his dealings with a white Englishman Mr Howlands who is the most powerful land owner in the area. Ngotho, Njoroge’s father is a respected man in the surrounding area, tends Mr. Howlands’ crops, but is motivated by his passion to preserve his ancestral land.
One day, black workers in the area call for a strike to obtain higher wages. Ngotho joined the protest despite been warned by his wives. Jacobo tries to put an end to the demonstration. Ngotho attacks Jacobo, and the result is a riot where two people are killed. Jacobo survives and swears revenge. Ngotho loses his job after this and was forced to move. Njoroge’s education was funded by his brothers and he seems to lose respect for their father. Njoroge also have a topsy-turvy relationship with Mwihaki, Jacobo’s daughter.
Ngotho passes and important exam that made his village to be proud of him. They supported him by paying Njoroge’s school tution. He later met Jacobo’s daughter, Mwihaki. Her father has been murdered by Ngotho’s brother under the movement Mau Mau. The culprits were sentenced for life leaving Njoroge and her father’s wives. Njoroge fears he cannot make ends meet; he gives up hope of continuing in school and loses faith in God.
Mwihaki was angry because of her father’s death. When Njoroge finally pledges his love to her, she refuses to leave with him, realizing her obligation to Kenya and her mother. Njoroge decides to leave town and makes an attempt at suicide; however he fails when his mothers find him before committing suicide. The novel closes with Njoroge feeling hopeless, and ashamed of cowardice.