31 h. ago Take away our language and we will forget who we are: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and the language of conquest

The late Kenyan novelist and activist believed erasing language was the most lasting weapon of oppression. Here, Aminatta Forna recalls the man and introduces his essay on decolonisationIn the 1930s, it was common for British missionaries to change the names of African school pupils to biblical names. The change wasn’t “just for school” – it was intended to be for ever. So Ngũgĩ became James and my father, Mohamed, became Moses. While many students retained their new names throughout their lives, Ngũgĩ and my father changed theirs back, though you can still find early editions of Ngũgĩ’s first book, Weep Not, Child, under the name of “James Ngugi”. With the novel, Ngũgĩ established himself as a writer and later, by reclaiming his Kikuyu identity as an activist, began a process of decolonisation that he would explore in one of his most famous nonfiction works, Decolonising the Mind (1986), which challenged the dominance of European languages in African education and literature. Ngũgĩ...

Politics

4 d. ago 'Chimp Crazy' star sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison for lying that primate had died

A Missouri woman who starred in the HBO documentary series “Chimp Crazy” has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after she lied that a movie star primate that she was accused of mistreating had died

Events

5 d. ago Married British father is killed on his first mission after volunteering to fight in Ukraine despite no military experience

Alan Robert Williams, 35, had moved from his home in Moreton, Merseyside, on May 7, to fight the invading Russian forces in Kharkiv after losing his job.

Events

5 d. ago Brit seen 'walking away' after vanishing from sunbed on holiday with husband

Sources told Greek media they believe they saw Michele Ann Joy Bourda leaving the beach as the search for the missing British tourist stretches into its sixth day

Politics

7 d. ago Haunting last photo of Brit tourist before she vanished from sunbed while husband slept

The search continues for 59-year-old British woman Michele Ann Joy Bourda, who went missing from a beach in Kavala, northern Greece, last Friday

Culture

7 d. ago British spy planes 'are still flying over Gaza to help Israel find missing hostages'

The RAF is continuing to fly spy planes over Gaza to help Israel's government find the still-missing hostages taken by Hamas. 

Events

8 d. ago Final sighting of Brit who vanished on beach while husband slept as she was 'told to stop'

A British woman has gone missing from a Greek beach after her husband reportedly fell asleep, with the 59-year-old woman's disappearance triggering a huge search operation

Politics

8 d. ago British woman missing in Greece as wife vanishes from sunbed next to sleeping husband

Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, was last seen on a sunbed at Ofryni beach, Kavala, in Greece on Friday

Events

8 d. ago Missing British tourist vanishes from sunbed next to husband as concern grows

Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, was last seen on a sunbed at Ofryni beach, Kavala in Greece on August 1.

Events

8 d. ago Fears grow for missing British woman who 'vanished' from sunbed in Greece

Michele Ann Joy Bourda has been missing in Greece for days

Events

8 d. ago How Josh Kerr celebrated British title as world champion makes mission admission

Josh Kerr became the British 5000m champion at the weekend and immediate turned his attention to defending his world title in Tokyo next month

Events

9 d. ago Search for British tourist, 59, who vanished from Greek beach as her husband slept

Michele Ann Joy Bourda, 59, had been swimming at Ofrynio beach in the city of Kavala when she went missing on Friday

Society

9 d. ago British & Irish Lions star's baby born in car before first match of series

British and Irish Lions centre Bundee Aki missed the birth of his fifth child with the Irishman preparing for the First Test in Australia and has revealed his wife gave birth in the car

Politics

9 d. ago Manhunt as Brit mysteriously disappears from Greek beach while 'husband slept'

A 59-year-old British woman is missing in Greece after she vanished off a beach while her husband was allegedly asleep as cops desperately continue search operations via sea

Events

9 d. ago Large great white shark spotted swimming close to Santa Monica pier

The much-feared predator usually stays further off the coast

Events

3 w. ago Eight in 10 Brits are on mission to buy more British fruit and veg, research shows

A poll of 2,000 adults found Brits are in agreement that supermarkets should do more to prioritise British produce and said it is important to include homegrown vegetables and salad in their weekly shop

Events

3 w. ago Peter Falconio conspiracy theories from 'faked death' to girlfriend wrongly accused

Australian Police are still searching for the remains of British backpacker Peter Falconio who went missing while on holiday with his girlfriend in the outback in 2001

Events

3 w. ago Body found in search for British tourist who went missing on hike in Italy

The 33-year-old had been due to fly back to Manchester Airport on July 12

Events

3 w. ago British hiker Matthew Hall missing in Italian Alps found dead after sending tragic final text

33-year-old’s body found near where he sent ‘I lost the path’ final text

Events

4 w. ago Owen Farrell overlooked by dad for Lions showdown as Andy Farrell makes tough call

Owen Farrell has been tipped to feature in the first British and Irish Lions Test but looks to have missed out with Marcus Smith reportedly beating him to a spot on the bench

Politics