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

Algeria

See: List of Algerian writers

Angola

See: List of Angolan writers

Benin

See: List of Beninese writers

Botswana

• Galesiti Baruti, novelist and academic
• Unity Dow (1959–), judge, human rights activist, writer and minister of basic education
• Bessie Head (1937–1986), novelist and short-story writer born in South Africa
• Leetile Disang Raditladi (1910–1971), playwright and poet
• Barolong Seboni (1957–), poet and academic

Burkina Faso

See: List of Burkinabé writers

Burundi

• Esther Kamatari (1951–)
• Ketty Nivyabandi (1978–)

Cameroon

See: List of Cameroonian writers

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

• Pierre Makombo Bamboté (1932–), novelist and poet
• Etienne Goyémidé (1942–1997), novelist, poet and short story writer: Le Silence de la Foret
• Blaise N'Djehoya (1953–), novelist
• Cyriaque Robert Yavoucko (1953–), novelist

Chad

• Salma Khalil Alio (1982–), poet, short story writer and artist.
• Khayar Oumar Deffalah (c.1944–), politician and autobiographical writer
• Ali Abdel-Rhamane Haggar (1960–), economist and writer
• Marie-Christine Koundja (1957–), novelist and diplomat
• Koulsy Lamko (1959–), playwright, poet, novelist and university lecturer
• Joseph Brahim Seid (1927–1980), writer and politician
• 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
• Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (1972–), French-language novelist

Egypt

See: List of Egyptian writers

Equatorial Guinea

• María Nsué Angüe (1945–2017), novelist and writer
• Justo Bolekia Boleká (1954–), professor and Bubi writer
• Juan Balboa Boneke (1938–2014), politician and writer
• Raquel Ilombé (1938–1992), Spanish-language writer
• Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (1966–), Annobonese writer
• Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo (1950–), writer and journalist

Eritrea

• Hamid Barole Abdu (1953–), non-fiction
• Reesom Haile (2003–), Tigrinya-language poet
• Saba Kidane (1978–), Tigrinya poet
• Hannah Pool (1974–), journalist
• Alemseged Tesfai (1944–), English-language playwright

Ethiopia

• Sahle Selassie (c. 1795–1847)
• Haddis Alemayehu (1910–2003)
• Michael Daniel Ambatchew (1967–2012)
• Āfawarq Gabra Iyasus (1868–1947)
• Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin (1936–2006)
• Moges Kebede
• Tāddasa Lībān
• Tsehay Melaku
• Dinaw Mengestu (1978–)
• Maaza Mengiste (1974–)
• Nega Mezlekia (1958–)
• Martha Nasibù (1931–2020)
• Lemn Sissay (1967–)
• 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, born French-language poet
• Bessora (1968–, in Belgium), novelist and short story writer
• Charline Effah (1977–), French-language novelist and educator
• Rene Maran, born near Martinique (1887–1960), poet and novelist
• Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa, French-language poet and novelist
• Justine Mintsa (1967–), French-language novelist
• Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang (1973–), French-language short story writer
• Nadia Origo (1977–), novelist and publisher
• Honorine Ngou (1957–), novelist and academic
• Vincent de Paul Nyonda (1918–1995), playwright
• Maurice Okoumba-Nkoghe (1954–), poet and teacher
• Laurent Owondo (1948–), playwright
• Angèle Ntyugwetondo Rawiri (1954–2010), novelist

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 (1960–)
• Hélder Proença (died 2009)
• Carlos Semedo, poet
• Abdulai Silla (1958–)

Kenya

See: List of Kenyan writers

Lesotho

• David Cranmer Theko Bereng (1900–), Sotho poet
• Caroline Ntseliseng Khaketla (1918–2012)
• Simon Majara (1924–), Sotho novelist
• Zakea D. Mangoaela (1883–1963), folklorist
• Thomas Mofolo (1876–1948), novelist
• A. S. Mopeli-Paulus (1913–1960), novelist
• Edward Motsamai (1870–1959), politician and writer
• Kem Edward Ntsane (1920–), Sotho poet and novelist
• Basildon Peta (1972–), journalist
• Everitt Lechesa Segoete (1858–1923), religious and social writer
• Azariele M. Sekese (1849–1930), Basotho author and historian
• Joseph I. F. Tjokosela (c.1911–), Catholic writer and teacher

Liberia

• Edwin Barclay (1882–1955), politician and writer
• Thomas E. Besolow (c.1867–?), autobiographical writer
• 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
• Hawa Jande Golakai (1979–)
• Bai T. Moore (1916–), poet, novelist, folklorist and essayist
• Wilton G. S. Sankawulo (1937–2009), politician and author
• Vamba Sherif (1973–)

Libya

• Sadiq Al-Nayhum (1937–1994), Islamic writer, critic and journalist
• Khalifa al-Fakhri, short story writer
• Ahmed Fagih (1942–2019), novelist
• Muammar al-Gaddafi (1942–2011), politician and occasional novelist
• Ibrahiem El-kouni (1948–), novelist
• Latifa al-Zayyat (1923–1996), 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
• Ibn Razqa (died 1144 AH/1731 AD), poet and scholar
• Moussa Diagana (1946–2018), French-language writer
• Moussa Ould Ebnou (1956–), French-language novelist
• Abderrahmane Sissako (1961–), filmmaker

Mauritius

Morocco

Mozambique

See: List of Mozambican writers

Namibia

• Neshani Andreas (1964–2011), novelist
• Ndeutala Angolo (1952–), novelist and nonfiction writer
• Joseph Diescho (1955–), novelist
• Dorian Haarhoff (1944–), poet and academic
• Giselher Werner Hoffmann (1958–), German-language novelist
• Anoeschka von Meck (1967–), journalist and Afrikaans-language writer
• Hans Daniel Namuhuja (1924–1998), poet
• Cosmo Pieterse (1930–), playwright and poet living and working in South Africa

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
• Sara Pinto Coelho (1913–1990), fiction writer and playwright
• Caetano da Costa Alegre (1864–1890), Portuguese-language poet
• Mário Domingues (1899–1977), novelist
• Conceição Lima (1962–), Portuguese-language poet
• Manuela Margarido (1925–2007), Portuguese-language poet
• Alda do Espírito Santo (1926–2010), Portuguese-language poet
• José Francisco Tenreiro (1921–1963), literary critic and poet

Senegal

See: List of Senegalese writers

Seychelles

• Antoine Abel (1934– ), poet and fable writer

Sierra Leone

See: List of Sierra Leonean writers

Somalia

• Abdi Sheik Abdi (1942–), U.S.-based writer
• Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, linguist and translator
• Maxamed Daahir Afrax, novelist, playwright and critic
• Elmi Boodhari (1908–1940) poet
• Ayaan Hirsi Ali (1969–), feminist and anti-Islam activist
• Ahmed Ibrahim Artan, diplomat, author and politician
• Jaamac Cumar Ciise (c.1922–2014), historian of Somali oral literature
• Waris Dirie (1965–), model and autobiographical writer
• Salaan Carrabey (1864–1943) poet
• Cristina Ali Farah (1973–), poet and novelist
• Farah Nur ((1862–1932)) poet and warrior
• Hussein Hasan (d. 1910s) warrior and poet
• Nuruddin Farah (1945–), novelist
• Hadrawi (1943–), poet
• Yaasiin Cismaan Keenadiid (1919–), literary scholar
• Abdi Kusow, scholar and writer
• Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade (1920–1973) poet
• Nadifa Mohamed (1981–), novelist
• Gaariye (d. 2012) poet
• Mohamed Haji Mukhtar (1947–), 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
• Cali Xuseen Xirsi (1946–2005), poet
• Shadya Yasin (1983/4–), poet

South Africa

See: List of South African writers

Sudan

See: List of Sudanese writers

Swaziland

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

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 (1935–2016), writer, diplomat and politician

Zambia

• Ellen Banda-Aaku (1965–), fiction, children's books
• Jack Avon (1967–), non-fiction, business books
• Kenneth Kaunda (1924–), nationalist and writer
• Chibamba Kanyama (1965–), journalist and business writer
• Andreya Sylvester Masiye (1922–), diplomat and novelist
• Dominic Mulaisho (1933–2014), novelist
• Charles Mwewa, poet and non-fiction writer
• Princess Zindaba Nyirenda, novelist
• Field Ruwe (1955–), educator, historian, media practitioner, author (fiction and non-fiction)
• Namwali Serpell (1980–), 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 Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
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. Bouchard, N; Ferme, V (2013). Italy and the Mediterranean: Words, Sounds, and Images of the Post-Cold War Era. ISBN 978-1137343468.
9. "Peggy Lucie Auleley: lauréate du concours ACCT". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. 1999-06-03. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
10. Toman, Cheryl (2016). Women Writers of Gabon: Literature and Herstory. p. xxviii. ISBN 978-1498537216.
11. "Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
12. "Justine Mintsa: An author from Gabon writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
13. "Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang: An author from Gabon writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. 2003-09-19. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
14. Albert S. Gérard, European-Language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Volume 1, p. 286.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Benghazi-Born Poet Mattawa Reflects on Growing up Under Gadhafi, PBS Newshour, 2 March 2011.
18. "Local author Neshani Andreas dead". The Namibian. May 17, 2011.
19. Sven Rosenow. "Die Biographie von Gilselher W. Hoffmann". Afrikaroman.de. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
20. "Palimage: Olinda Beja". Palimage.pt. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
21. Cavaleiro da Torre (2004-02-27). "Torre da História Ibérica: Admirável Mário Domingues". Torredahistoriaiberica.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
22. Morreu a poetisa são-tomense Manuela Margarido Archived 2012-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, Publico, 11 March 2007.
23. Hans M. Zell, Carol Bundy, Virginia Coulon, A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, 1983, p. 498.
24. Elias Munshya wa Munshya, Zambia: Chibamba Kanyama’s Controversy: A Review of “Business Values for our Time”, Lusaka Times 31 October 2010.
25. Albert S. Gérard, African Language Literatures: an introduction to the literary history of Sub-Saharan Africa, 1981, p. 227.
26. Eric Gondwe, Charles Mwewa, Zambian.com.
27. Zambian Economist review.

References

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

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

• Lists of African writers
• Lists of writers by nationality