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

Burkina Faso

See: List of Burkinabé writers

Burundi

• Esther Kamatari (1951– )

• Ketty Nivyabandi

Cameroon

See: List of Cameroonian writers

Cape Verde

Main article: List of Cape Verdeans § Writers

Central African Republic

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

Chad

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

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– ), novelist and writer.
• Juan Balboa Boneke (1938–2014), politician and writer.
• Raquel Ilonbé (1938–1992), Spanish-language writer.
• Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (1966– ), Annobonese writer.
• Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo (1950– ), writer and journalist.

Eritrea

• Alemseged Tesfai (1944– ), English-language playwright.
• Reesom Haile (2003– ), Tigrinya-language poet.

• Saba Kidane (1978– ), Tigrinya poet

Ethiopia

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

Gabon

• Jean-Baptiste Abessolo (1932– ), educator and short story writer.
• Peggy Lucie Auleley, French-language poet.
• Bessora (born in Belgium) (1968– ), novelist and short story writer.
• 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, French-language short story writer.
• 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

Main article: List of Gambian writers

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.
• Odete Semedo (pt)
• Abdulai Silla

Kenya

See: List of Kenyan writers

Lesotho

File:Mpho Nthunya with her glasses.jpg

Mpho Matsepo Nthunya of Lesotho

• Moroesi Akhionbare (1945– )
• David Cranmer Theko Bereng (1900– ), Sotho poet.
• Caroline Ntseliseng Khaketla (1918–)
• 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.
• Mzamane Nhlapo
• Mpho Matsepo Nthunya
• 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.
• Wilton G. S. Sankawulo (1937–2009), politician and author.
• Bai T. Moore (1916– ), poet, novelist, folklorist and essayist.

Libya

• Sadiq Al-Nayhum (1937–1994), Islamic writer, critic and journalist.
• FKhalifa al-Fakhri, short story writer.
• Ahmad Ibrahim al-Faqih (1942– ), novelist.
• Muammar al-Gaddafi (1942–2011 ), politician and occasional novelist.
• Ibrahiem El-kouni (1948– ), novelist.
• 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.
• Ibn Razqa (died 1144 AH/1731 AD), poet and scholar.
• Moussa Diagana (1946– ), French-language writer.
• Moussa Ould Ebnou, French-language novelist.
• Mohammed al-Shankiti (1907–1973), Islamic scholar.
• Abderrahmane Sissako (1961– ), filmmaker

Mauritius

Main article: List of Mauritian writers

Morocco

Main article: List of Moroccan writers

Mozambique

See: List of Mozambican writers

Namibia

• Joseph Diescho (1955– ), novelist.
• Dorian Haarhoff (1944– ), poet and academic.
• Giselher Werner Hoffmann (1958– ), German-language novelist.
• Anoeschka von Meck, journalist and Afrikaans language writer.
• 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.
• Conceição Lima (1962– ), Portuguese-language poet.
• Caetano da Costa Alegre (1864–1890), Portuguese-language poet.
• M. Manuela Margarido (1925–2007), Portuguese-language poet.
• Alda do Espírito Santo (1926– ), Portuguese-language poet.
• Mário Domingues (1899–1977), novelist.
• 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

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

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, writer, diplomat and politician.

Zambia

• Kenneth Kaunda (1924– ), nationalist and writer.
• Chibamba Kanyama, journalist and business writer.
• Andreya Sylvester Masiye (1922– ), diplomat and novelist.
• Dominic Mulaisho (1933–2014 ), novelist.
• Charles Mwewa, poet and non-fiction writer.
• Keith Nalumango (1952– ), novelist and former head of programming at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.
• Princess Zindaba Nyirenda, novelist.
• Field Ruwe (1955– ), Educator, historian, media practitioner, author (fiction & non fiction).
• Monde Sifuniso (1944– ), Editor, publisher, author (fiction & 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

External links

• Contemporary African Writers/Authors
• Africa Resource Research Data
• Lire les femmes – African women writers