List of African writers by country

This is a list of prominent and notable writers from Africa. It includes poets, novelists, children's writers, essayists, and scholars, listed by country.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Algeria

See: List of Algerian writers

Angola

See: List of Angolan writers

Benin

See: List of Beninese writers

Botswana

• Galesiti Baruti, novelist and academic^[1]
• Unity Dow (born 1959), judge, human rights activist and writer
• Bessie Head (1937–1986), novelist and short-story writer born in South Africa^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Leetile Disang Raditladi (1910–1971), playwright and poet^[Jahn]
• Barolong Seboni (born 1957), poet and academic^[Jahn]

Burkina Faso

See: List of Burkinabé writers

Burundi

• Esther Kamatari (1951– )
• Ketty Nivyabandi^[2]

Cameroon

See: List of Cameroonian writers

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

• Pierre Makombo Bamboté (1932– ), novelist and poet^[Gikandi]
• Etienne Goyémidé (1942– ), novelist, poet and short story writer: Le Silence de la Foret^[Gikandi]
• Blaise N'Djehoya (1953– ), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Cyriaque Robert Yavoucko (1953– ), novelist^[Gikandi]

Chad

• Khayar Oumar Deffalah (c.1944– ), politician and autobiographical writer^[3]
• Ali Abdel-Rhamane Haggar (1960– ), economist and writer^[4]
• Marie-Christine Koundja (1957– ), novelist and diplomat
• Koulsy Lamko (1959– ), playwright, poet, novelist and university lecturer
• Joseph Brahim Seid (1927–1980), writer and politician^[Jahn]
• Ahmat Taboye, literary critic

Congo (Brazzaville)

See: List of Republic of the Congo writers

Congo (Democratic Republic) – formerly Zaïre

See: List of Democratic Republic of the Congo writers

Côte d'Ivoire

See: List of Ivorian writers

Djibouti

• Waberi Abdourahman (1965– ), novelist, poet and academic^[Gikandi]
• Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (1972– ), French-language novelist^[5]

Egypt

See: List of Egyptian writers

Equatorial Guinea

• María Nsué Angüe (1945– ), novelist and writer
• Juan Balboa Boneke (1938–2014), politician and writer^[Gikandi]
• Raquel Ilonbé (1938–1992), Spanish-language writer
• Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (1966– ), Annobonese writer^[Gikandi]
• Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo (1950– ), writer and journalist^[Gikandi]

Eritrea

• Reesom Haile (2003– ), Tigrinya-language poet^[6]
• Saba Kidane (1978– ), Tigrinya poet
• Alemseged Tesfai (1944– ), English-language playwright^[7]

Ethiopia

• Haddis Alemayehu (1910–2003)
• Michael Daniel Ambatchew (1967– )
• Āfawarq Gabra Iyasus (1868–1947)
• Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin (1936–2006)
• Moges Kebede
• Tāddasa Lībān
• Dinaw Mengestu (1978–)
• Maaza Mengiste
• Nega Mezlekia (1958– )
• Sahle Selassie (1936– )
• Lemn Sissay
• Demese Tsege
• Hama Tuma (1949– )
• Mammo Wudneh (1931–2012)
• Birhānu Zarīhun (1933/4–1987)

Gabon

• Jean-Baptiste Abessolo (1932– ), educator and short story writer
• Peggy Lucie Auleley, French-language poet^[8]
• Bessora (born in Belgium) (1968– ), novelist and short story writer^[Gikandi]
• Rene Maran, born near Martinique (1887–1960), poet and novelist
• Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa, French-language poet and novelist^[9]
• Justine Mintsa (1967– ), French-language novelist^[10]
• Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang, French-language short story writer^[11]
• Vincent de Paul Nyonda (1918–1995), playwright
• Maurice Okoumba-Nkoghe (1954– ), poet and teacher^[Gikandi]
• Laurent Owondo (1948– ), playwright^[Gikandi]
• Angèle Ntyugwetondo Rawiri (1954–2010), novelist^[Gikandi]

The Gambia

Ghana

See: List of Ghanaian writers

Guinea

See: List of Guinean writers

Guinea-Bissau

• Amílcar Cabral (1924–1973), agronomist, writer and politician
• Vasco Cabral (1926–2005)
• José Carlos Schwarz (1949–1977), poet and musician
• Fausto Duarte (1903–1953), from Cape Verde
• Carlos Lopes
• Hélder Proença
• Carlos Semedo, poet^[12]
• Abdulai Silla

Kenya

See: List of Kenyan writers

Lesotho

• David Cranmer Theko Bereng (1900– ), Sotho poet^[Jahn]
• Caroline Ntseliseng Khaketla (1918–)^{[13] [Jahn]}
• Simon Majara (1924– ), Sotho novelist^[Jahn]
• Zakea D. Mangoaela (1883–1963), folklorist^[Jahn]
• Thomas Mofolo (1876–1948), novelist^[Jahn]
• A. S. Mopeli-Paulus (1913–1960), novelist
• Edward Motsamai (1870–1959), politician and writer^[Jahn]
• Kem Edward Ntsane (1920– ), Sotho poet and novelist^[Jahn]
• Basildon Peta (1972– ), journalist
• Everitt Lechesa Segoete (1858–1923), religious and social writer^[Jahn]
• Azariele M. Sekese (1849–1930), Basotho author and historian^[Jahn]
• Joseph I. F. Tjokosela (c.1911–), Catholic writer and teacher^[Jahn]

Liberia

• Edwin Barclay (1882–1955), politician and writer
• Thomas E. Besolow (c.1867–?), autobiographical writer^[Jahn]
• Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832–1912), born in the Virgin Islands (see also Sierra Leone), educator, writer, diplomat and politician
• Roland Tombekai Dempster (1910–1965), poet^[Jahn]
• Bai T. Moore (1916– ), poet, novelist, folklorist and essayist^{[Jahn] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Wilton G. S. Sankawulo (1937–2009), politician and author

Libya

• Sadiq Al-Nayhum (1937–1994), Islamic writer, critic and journalist^[14]
• FKhalifa al-Fakhri, short story writer^[15]
• Ahmad Ibrahim al-Faqih (1942– ), novelist^[Gikandi]
• Muammar al-Gaddafi (1942–2011 ), politician and occasional novelist
• Ibrahiem El-kouni (1948– ), novelist^[Gikandi]
• Latifa al-Zayyat (1923– ), activist and novelist

Madagascar

See: List of Malagasy writers

Malawi

See: List of Malawian writers

Mali

See: List of Malian writers

Mauritania

• Ahmad ibn al-Amin al-Shinqiti (1872–1913), Arabic-language writer
• Amadou Oumar Bâ (1917– ), poet^[Gikandi]
• Ibn Razqa (died 1144 AH/1731 AD), poet and scholar
• Moussa Diagana (1946– ), French-language writer
• Moussa Ould Ebnou, French-language novelist
• Abderrahmane Sissako (1961– ), filmmaker

Mauritius

Morocco

Mozambique

See: List of Mozambican writers

Namibia

• Neshani Andreas (1964–2011), novelist^[16]
• Joseph Diescho (1955– ), novelist^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Dorian Haarhoff (1944– ), poet and academic^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Giselher Werner Hoffmann (1958– ), German-language novelist^[17]
• Anoeschka von Meck, journalist and Afrikaans language writer
• Cosmo Pieterse (1930–), playwright and poet living and working in South Africa^[Jahn]

Niger

See: List of Nigerien writers

Nigeria

See: List of Nigerian writers

Rwanda

See: List of Rwandan writers

São Tomé and Príncipe

• Olinda Beja (1946– ), novelist^[18]
• Sara Pinto Coelho (1913–1990), fiction writer and playwright
• Caetano da Costa Alegre (1864–1890), Portuguese-language poet^[Jahn]
• Mário Domingues (1899–1977), novelist^[19]
• Conceição Lima (1962– ), Portuguese-language poet
• M. Manuela Margarido (1925–2007), Portuguese-language poet^[20]
• Alda do Espírito Santo (1926– ), Portuguese-language poet^{[Gikandi] [Jahn]}
• José Francisco Tenreiro (1921–1963), literary critic and poet^{[Gikandi] [Jahn] [21]}

Senegal

See: List of Senegalese writers

Seychelles

• Antoine Abel (1934– ), poet and fable writer^[Gikandi]

Sierra Leone

See: List of Sierra Leonean writers

Somalia

• Abdi Sheik Abdi (1942– ), US-based writer
• Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, linguist and translator
• Maxamed Daahir Afrax, novelist, playwright and critic
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali (1969– ), feminist and anti-Islam activist
• Ahmed Ibrahim Artan, diplomat, author and politician
• Jaamac Cumar Ciise, historian of Somali oral literature
• Waris Dirie (1965– ), model and autobiographical writer
• Cristina Ali Farah (1973– ), poet and novelist
• Nuruddin Farah (1945– ), novelist^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame 'Hadrawi'(1941–), poet
• Yaasiin Cismaan Keenadiid (1919– ), literary scholar
• Abdi Kusow, scholar and writer
• Nadifa Mohamed (1981–), novelist
• Mohamed Haji Mukhtar, historian and scholar
• Rageh Omaar (1967– ), journalist
• Abdi Ismail Samatar (1950– ), geographer
• Ahmed Ismail Samatar (1950– ), writer and academic
• Said S. Samatar (1943– ), scholar and writer
• Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920– ), poet
• Cali Xuseen Xirsi (1946–2005), poet
• Shadya Yasin, poet

South Africa

See: List of South African writers

Sudan

See: List of Sudanese writers

Swaziland

• Modison Salayedvwa Magagula (1958– ), playwright^[Gikandi]
• Stanley Musa N. Matsebula (1958), economist and writer^[Gikandi]
• Elias Adam Bateng Mkhonta (1954–2001), novelist^[Gikandi]
• Sarah Mkhonza (1957– ), novelist, short story writer and journalist^[Gikandi]
• Gladys Lomafu Pato, short story writer^[Gikandi]

Tanzania

See: List of Tanzanian writers

Togo

See: List of Togolese writers

Tunisia

See: List of Tunisian writers

Uganda

See: List of Ugandan writers

Western Sahara

• Mohamed Fadel Ismail Ould Es-Sweyih (1958–2002), journalist and politician
• Ahmed Baba Miské, writer, diplomat and politician

Zambia

• Kenneth Kaunda (1924– ), nationalist and writer^[Gikandi]
• Chibamba Kanyama, journalist and business writer^[22]
• Andreya Sylvester Masiye (1922– ), diplomat and novelist^[23]
• Dominic Mulaisho (1933–2014 ), novelist^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Charles Mwewa, poet and non-fiction writer^[24]
• Princess Zindaba Nyirenda, novelist^[25]
• Field Ruwe (1955– ), educator, historian, media practitioner, author (fiction and non-fiction)
• Monde Sifuniso (1944– ), editor, publisher, author (fiction and non-fiction)
• Binwell Sinyangwe (1956– )

Zimbabwe

See: List of Zimbabwean writers

See also

• African Writers Series
• Lists of authors
• International Research Confederacy on African Literature and Culture
• List of Latin American writers

Notes

1. "Batswapong history revealed". Mmegi.bw. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
2. "Ketty Nivyabandi", World Literature Today, March 2014
3. Acheikh ibn Oumar, Fiche de lecture de: "Fils de nomade, les mémoires du dromadaire" – Khayar Oumar Defallah, 11 February 2010.
4. "1ère ÉDITION DES JOURNÉES TCHADIENNES AU SÉNÉGAL: Pour vivifier un héritage culturel". Lematindafrique.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
5. "Mouna-Hodan Ahmed: An author from Djibouti writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
6. Charles Cantalupo, Reesom Haile's poetry
7. Jane Plastow, "Alemseged Tesfai: a playwright in the service of Eritrean liberation", in Banham et al, African theatre in development, 1999, pp. 54–60.
8. "Peggy Lucie Auleley: lauréate du concours ACCT". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. 1999-06-03. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
9. "Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
10. "Justine Mintsa: An author from Gabon writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
11. "Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang: An author from Gabon writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. 2003-09-19. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
12. Albert S. Gérard, European-Language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Volume 1, p. 286.
13. Margaret Busby (ed.), Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent from the Ancient Egyptian to the Present, London: Jonathan Cape, 1992; Vintage, 1993; pp. 275–276.
14. Suha Taji-Farouki, 'Sadiq Nayhum: An Introduction to the Life and Works of a Contemporary Libyan Intellectual', The Maghreb Review, 25:3–4 (2000), pp. 242 ff.
15. Benghazi-Born Poet Mattawa Reflects on Growing up Under Gadhafi, PBS Newshour, 2 March 2011.
16. "Local author Neshani Andreas dead". The Namibian. May 17, 2011.
17. Sven Rosenow. "Die Biographie von Gilselher W. Hoffmann". Afrikaroman.de. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
18. "Palimage: Olinda Beja". Palimage.pt. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
19. Cavaleiro da Torre (2004-02-27). "Torre da História Ibérica: Admirável Mário Domingues". Torredahistoriaiberica.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
20. Morreu a poetisa são-tomense Manuela Margarido, Publico, 11 March 2007.
21. Hans M. Zell, Carol Bundy, Virginia Coulon, A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, 1983, p. 498.
22. Elias Munshya wa Munshya, Zambia: Chibamba Kanyama’s Controversy: A Review of “Business Values for our Time”, Lusaka Times 31 October 2010
23. Albert S. Gérard, African Language Literatures: an introduction to the literary history of Sub-Saharan Africa, 1981, p. 227.
24. Eric Gondwe, Charles Mwewa, Zambian.com
25. Zambian Economist review

References

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1. [Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge; 2002. ISBN 978-0-415-23019-3
2. [Gikandi & Mwangi] Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, ed., The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press; 2007. ISBN 978-0-231-12520-8
3. [Killam & Rowe] Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds., The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press; 2000. ISBN 0-253-33633-3
4. [Jahn] Janheinz Jahn, Ulla Schild & Almut Nordmann Seiler, eds., Who's who in African Literature: Biographies, Works, Commentaries. Horst Erdmann Verlag, 1972. ISBN 978-3-7711-0153-4

External links

• Contemporary African writers/authors
• Africa Resource research data
• Lire les femmes – African women writers