Why is this written in English? What does that suggest about the intended readership of the work?

This question asks the reader to apply the same sorts of critical questions Ngũgĩ is asking about African literature to the work itself. Because Ngũgĩ suggests that writing in Gikuyu gives him access to rural, peasant, and uneducated populations in Kenya, it follows that Ngũgĩ is writing this essay with a different, more educated audience in mind. As a “farewell,” these are the readers that he once reached in English and that, now, he will only reach through translation.

What is imperialism? Who or what throughout this work is imperialistic?

Ngũgĩ associates imperialism with a number of wealthy countries, many of whom include former imperial powers such as England, Germany, Portugal, and the United States. However, imperialist actors also include multinational corporations and native elites who...