Super Short Summary

A Grain of Wheat by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is set in Kenya on the brink of its independence (Uhuru) from British colonial rule in December 1963. The narrative, which shifts fluidly between multiple characters' perspectives and from past to present, focuses on the villagers of Thabai dealing with the lingering effects of the Mau uprising and the British-imposed Emergency. The central plot revolves around these villagers preparing for the Uhuru celebration, while personal and communal secrets about their roles during the Emergency gradually come to light. Sensitive topics include references to torture, betrayal, and interpersonal strife arising from colonial conflicts.