Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Kenya and Africa’s towering man of letters who has died at the age of 87, evolved from a mythical figure of my youth to become a close mentor whose friendship lasted to the last few hours of his life.

Our phone conversation last Sunday, only 72 hours before his death, was a regular feature in recent years, precipitated by his quest for clarity on the dramatic events unfolding in his beloved country, from which he was unmoored for half his lifetime.