A Grain of Wheat Lesson Plan

A Grain of Wheat is considered one of Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s greatest literacy achievements. The novel is about Kenya's fight for independence, and the Mau Mau political movement that was fighting for freedom from the British. The novel focuses on a village, Thabei, and what happens in the lives of the characters living there, in the five days leading up to the Uhuru/independence celebrations. The story of Kenya’s independence is told through the combined stories of the characters. By employing flashbacks, Ngugi is able to help readers both better understand the characters actions as well as to garner a better understanding of the history of the fight for independence.