List of African writers
African Writers:
This is a list of literary figures from the African continent, including poets, novelists, children's writers, essayists, and scholars.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
- Maïmouna Abdoulaye, Senegal (1949- )
- Léone Abo, Congo (Democratic Republic) (1945- )
- Abd Al-Rahman Abnudi, Egypt
- Josette D. Abondio, Côte d'Ivoire
- Peter Abrahams, South Africa
- Chinua Achebe, Nigeria (1930- )
- Remi Adedeji, Nigeria (1937- )
- Anne-Marie Adiaffi, Côte d'Ivoire (1951- )
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigeria (1977- )
- Christine Adjahi Gnimagnon, Benin/Senegal
- Tatamkula Afrika, South Africa/Egypt (1920-2002)
- Berte-Evelyne Agbo, Benin/Senegal
- Colette Senami Agossou Houeto, Benin (1939- )
- Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (Djibouti) (1972- )
- Gamal Al-Ghitani, Egypt
- Hayam Abbas Al-Homi, Egypt
- Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghana (1940- )
- Tolu Ajayi, Nigeria
- Marie-Danielle Aka, Côte d'Ivoire
- Marie Giselle Aka, Côte d'Ivoire (born in the Lebanon) (1971- )
- Haddis Alemayehu, Ethiopia
- Germano Almeida, Cape Verde
- T.M. Aluko, Nigeria (1918- )
- Ifi Amadiume, Nigeria
- Michael Daniel Ambatchew, Ethiopia (1967- )
- Samir Amin, Egypt
- Assamala Amoi, Côte d'Ivoire (born in France), (1960- )
- Mario Pinto de Andrade, Angola
- Nadele Noele Ango Obiang, Gabon
- María Nsué Angüe, Equatorial Guinea (1945- )
- Emilie Anifranie Ehah, Togo/Senegal
- Anthony Appiah, Ghana
- Ayi Kwei Armah, Ghana
- Clotilde Armstrong, Senegal (1929- )
- Meshack Asare, Ghana (1945- )
- Michele Assamoua, Côte d'Ivoire (originally from France) (1941- )
- Annick Assemian, Côte d'Ivoire (born in France) (1952- )
- Therese Assiga Ahanda, Cameroon
- Peggy Lucie Auleley, Gabon
- Kofi Awoonor, Ghana (1935- )
B
- Amadou Hampâté Bâ, Mali
- Mariama Bâ, Senegal (1929-1981)
- Adame Ba Konaré, Mali
- Sirah Balde de Labe, Guinea
- Jeannette Balou Tchichelle, Congo-Brazzaville (1947- )
- Francoise Balogun, Nigeria
- Shabbir Banoobhai, South Africa (1949- )
- Nadine Bari, Guinea (born and lives in France) (1940- )
- Leopoldina Barreto, Cape Verde
- Aïssatou Barry, Guinea (1959- )
- Kesso Barry, Guinea (1948- )
- Mariama Barry, Guinea/Senegal
- Philomène Bassek, Cameroon (1957- )
- Angle Bassolé-Ouédraogo, Burkina Faso/Côte d'Ivoire
- Mark Behr, South Africa/Tanzania
- Virgine Belibi, Cameroon
- Tahar Ben Jelloun, Morocco
- Sokhna Benga, Senegal
- Lilian Berthelot, Mauritius
- Monique Bessomo, Cameroon (1954- )
- Bessora, Gabon (born in Belgium) (1968- )
- Mongo Béti, Cameroon
- Calixthe Beyala, Cameroun (1961- )
- Khadi Sy Bizet, Côte d'Ivoire
- Noëlle Bizi Bazouma, Congo (1959- )
- Anurée Blouin, Central African Republic (1921- )
- Jacqueline Fatima Bocoum, Senegal
- Silvie Bokoko, Congo-Brazzaville (1960- )
- Fatou Bolli, Côte d'Ivoire
- Amba Bongo, Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Tanella Boni, Côte d'Ivoire
- Isabelle Boni-Claverie, Côte d'Ivoire
- Angeline Solange Bonono, Cameroon
- Lila-Baleka Bosek?Ilolo, Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Hédi Bouraoui, Tunisia
- Sarah Bouyain, Burkina Faso (1968- )
- William Boyd, Ghana
- Francy Brethenoux-Seguin, Senegal
- Breyten Breytenbach, South Africa (1939- )
- Andre Brink, South Africa
- Akosua Busia, Ghana
C
- Marcel Cabon, Mauritius (1912-1972)
- Amílcar Cabral, Guinea Bissau/Cape Verde
- Adèle Caby-Livannah, Congo-Brazzaville (1957- )
- Laye Camara, Guinea
- Marie Anne Caro, Côte d'Ivoire
- G.E. Casely-Hayford, Ghana
- Jeanne de Cavally, Côte d'Ivoire (1926- )
- Hilda ?Mamapele Chaleka (1944- )
- Pyabelo Chaold Kouly, Togo (1943- )
- Driss Charaïbi, Morocco
- Raymond Chasle, Mauritius
- Syl Cheney-Cocker, Sierra Leone
- Rocha Chimera, Kenya
- Paulina Chiziane, Mozambique (1955- )
- Mohammed Choukri, Morocco
- Aïssatou Cisse, Senegal
- Fanny Fatou Cissé, Côte d'Ivoire (1971- )
- Aïssatou Cissokho, Senegal
- Andrée Clair, Niger (born and died in France) (1916-1982)
- Sara Pinto Coelho, São Tomé and Príncipe (1913-1990)
- J.M. Coetzee, South Africa (1940- ), awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Josiane Cointet, Guinea (born and lives in France)
- Simporé Simone Compaore, Burkina Faso
- Lima Conceição, São Tomé and Príncipe (1962- )
- Maggy Correa, Rwanda
- Caetano da Costa Alegre, São Tomé and Príncipe (1864-1890)
- Micheline Coulibaly, Côte d'Ivoire (born in Vietnam) (1950-2003
- Bryce Courtenay, South Africa (1933-)
- Mia Couto, Mozambique
- José Craveirinha, Mozambique
- Jeremy Cronin, South Africa
- Quobna Ottobah Cugoano, from today's Ghana (1757?-1801?)
- Patrick Cullinan, South Africa
D
- Bernard Binlin Dadié, Côte d'Ivoire
- Tsitsi Dangarembga, Zimbabwe
- Achmat Dangor, South Africa
- Amma Darko, Ghana
- Marie Claire Dati Sabze, Cameroon
- Malcolm de Chazal, Mauritius (1902-1981)
- Ingrid de Kok, South Africa (1951- )
- Carl de Souza, Mauritius (1949- )
- Ananda Devi, Mauritius
- Aïssatou Diagne Deme, Senegal
- Mohammed Dib, Algeria
- Henriette Diabate, Côte d'Ivoire
- Nafissatou Dia Diouf, Senegal (1973- )
- Aïda Mady Diallo, Mali
- Koumanthio Zeinab Diallo, Guinea (1956- )
- Mariana Kesso Diallo, Guinée
- Muriel Diallo, Côte d'Ivoire (1967- )
- Nafissatou Niang Diallo, Senegal (1941-1982)
- Aïssatou Diam, Senegal?
- Cucile-Ivelyse Diamoneka, Congo (1940- )
- Oumou Diarra, Mali (born in Yugoslavia) (1967- )
- Marion Diby Zinnanti, Côte d'Ivoire (1960- )
- Gina Dick, Côte d'Ivoire
- Mame Younousse Dieng, Senegal
- Aminata Sophie Dièye, Senegal (1973- )
- Sandile Dikeni, South Africa
- Modikwe Dikobe, South Africa
- Fatou Diome, Senegal (1968- )
- Birago Diop, Senegal
- Boubacar Boris Diop, Senegal
- Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal
- Coumba Diouf, Senegal (lives in USA)
- Aïsha Diouri, Senegal (1974- )
- Diur N?Thumb, Congo
- Assia Djebar, Algeria
- Alda do Espirito Santo, São Tomé and Príncipe (1926- )
- Mario Domingues, São Tomé and Príncipe (1899- )
- Emmanuel Dongala Congo
- Lydie Dooh Bunya, Cameroon (1933- )
- Efua Dorkenoo, Ghana
- C.J. Driver, South Africa
- K. Sello Duiker, South Africa
E
- Marie Félicité Ebokea, Cameroon
- Edmond Amran El Maleh, Morocco (1917- )
- Nawâl El Saadâwi, Egypt (1931- )
- Geneviève Ekomba, see Marie Charlotte Mbarga Kouma
- Christine Akoua Ekue, Togo
- Buchi Emecheta, Nigeria
- Stella Engama, Cameroon (1955- )
- Olaudah Equiano, from today's Nigeria (contested) (1745?-1797)
- Alda Esprito Santo, São Tomé and Príncipe
- Nathalie Etoké, Cameroon (born in France) (1977- )
- Ahmed Essop, South Africa
- Eliabeth Ewombe-Moundo, Cameroon
F
- Daniel O. Fagunwa, Nigeria
- Khadi Fall, Senegal (1948- )
- Kimé Dirama Fall, Senegal
- Jean Fanchette, Mauritius
- Frantz Fanon, Algeria (born in Martinique) (1925-1961)
- Nurudin Farah, Somalia
- Adelaide Fassinou, Benin (1955- )
- Aleth Felix- Tchicaya, Congo-Brazzaville (1955- )
- Alile Wahnon Ferro, Cape Verde, 1940
- Ruth First, South Africa (1925-1982)
- Aïcha Fofana, Mali (1957-2003)
- Mercedes Fouda, Cameroon
- Lynne Freed, South Africa
- Athol Fugard, South Africa ((1932- )
- Sheila Fugard, South Africa
- Dan Fulani, Nigeria
G
- Gad Ami, Togo (1958- )
- Absa Gassama, Senegal
- Mambou Aimée Gnali, Congo-Brazzaville
- Nadine Gordimer, South Africa (1923- ), awarded the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Jeremy Gordin, South Africa
- Stephen Gray, South Africa
- Aïssatou Guido, Mali (1941- )
- Zarra Guiro, Burkina Faso (1957- )
- Mafika Gwala, South Africa
H
- Reesom Haile, Eritrea
- Khadidjatou (Khady) Hane, Senegal
- Corinne Happy, Cameroon (1958- )
- Floe Hazoume, Congo-Brazzaville (1959- )
- Bessie Head, South Africa (1937-1986)
- Jeannine Herrmann-Grisius, Rwanda
- Bruce Hewett, South Africa
- Luis Bernado Honwano, Mozambique
- Christopher Hope, South Africa
- Gisèle Hountondji, Benin (1954- )
- Paulin J. Hountondji, Benin
- Chenjerai Hove, Zimbabwe
- Emma Huismans, South Africa
I
J
K
- Maguy Kabamba, Congo (Democratic Republic) (1960- )
- Oklomin Kacou, Côte d'Ivoire
- Viviane Kadio, see Oklomin Kacou
- Christine Kalonji, Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Sophie Heidi Kam, Burkina Faso (1968- )
- Esther Kamatari, Burundi (1951- )
- Sylvie Kande, Senegal (born in France)
- Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Senegal
- Sandra Pierrette Kanzie, Burkina Faso
- Farida Karodia, South Africa (1942- )
- Dia Kassembe, Angola
- Catherine Samali Kavuma, Uganda
- Simone Kaya, Côte d'Ivoire (1937- )
- Hélène Kaziende, Niger
- Aoua Kéita, Mali (1912-1980)
- Fatou Kéita, Côte d'Ivoire
- Fatouma Keïta, Mali (1977- )
- Modibo Sounkalo Keita, Mali
- China Keitetsi, Uganda
- Ken Bugul, Senegal (1947- )
- Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya, (1892?-1978)
- Euphrase Kezilahali, Tanzania (1944- )
- Abdelkébir Khatibi, Morocco
- Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine, Morocco
- Ungulani Ba Ka Khosa, Mozambique
- Marie-Angèle Kingué, Cameroon
- Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Burkina Faso
- Ingrid de Kok
- Alimatou Koné, Côte d'Ivoire
- Boundou Koné, Côte d'Ivoire
- Gaël Koné, Burkina Faso (1976- )
- Akissi Kouadio, Côte d'Ivoire
- Adjoua Flore Kouame, Côte d'Ivoire (1964- )
- Marie-Christine Koundja, Chad (1957- )
- Ahmadou Kourouma, Côte d'Ivoire
- Genevieve Koutou Guhl, Côte d'Ivoire
- Antije Krog, South Africa
- Thérèse Kuoh Moukoury, Cameroon (1938- )
- Ellen Kuzwayo, South Africa (1914- )
L
- Abdellatif Laabi, Morocco
- Sony Labou Tansi, Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Ayavi Lake, Senegal, (1980- )
- Béatrice Lalilon Gbado, Benin
- David Lambkin, South Africa
- Anne Landsman, South Africa
- Alda Lara, Angola (1930-1962)
- Francine Laurans, Congo (1962- )
- Lauryn, Togo/Benin/Côte d'Ivoire (born in France)
- Camara Laye, Guinea
- Doris Lessing, Zimbabwe (born in Persia, today's Iran) (1919- )
- Colleen Lindsay, Mauritius/South Africa
- Binéka Daniele Lissouba, Congo (born in France)
- Douglas Livingstone, South Africa (born in Malaysia) (1932-1996)
M
- Lina Magaia, Mozambique (1945- )
- Sindiwe Magona, South Africa (1943- )
- Naguib Mahfouz, Egypt (1911-1994), awarded the 1988 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Aminata Maïga Ka, Senegal (1940- )
- Amina Mama, Nigeria
- Mahmood Mamdani, Uganda
- Nelson Mandela, South Africa (1918- )
- Tita Mandeleau, Senegal (1937- )
- Manïssa, Côte d'Ivoire
- Chris Mann, South Africa
- Nozipa Maraire, Zimbabwe (1966- )
- Eugène Marais, South Africa
- Rene Maran, Gabon (born near Martinique) (1887-1960)
- Honorine Mare, Burkina Faso (1972- )
- Dambudzo Marechera, Zimbabwe
- M. Manuela Margarido, São Tomé and Príncipe (1925- )
- Mary Lee Martin-Koné, Côte d'Ivoire (born in USA)
- Andrew Martens, South Africa
- Amie-Claire Matip, Cameroon (1938- )
- Don Mattera, South Africa
- Edouard Maunick, Mauritius
- Hortense Mayaba, Benin
- M?Bamekan Soucko Bathily, Mali
- Marie Charlotte Mbarga Kouma, Cameroon (1941- )
- Mariètou Mbaye Biléoma, see Ken Bugul
- Annette Mbaye D?Erneville, Senegal (1926- )
- Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa, Gabon
- Ndèye Comba Mbengue Diakhaté, Senegal
- James McClure, South Africa
- Zakes Mda, South Africa
- Mariama Méité, Côte d'Ivoire (1967- )
- John van Melle, South Africa (born in the Netherlands) (1887-1953)
- Albert Memmi, South Africa
- Nega Mezlekia, Ethiopia
- Régine Mfoumou-Arthur, Cameroon (1972- )
- Gcina Mhlophe, South Africa (1959- )
- Justine Mintsa, Gabon (1967- )
- Thomas Mofolo, Lesotho (1876-1948)
- Benjamin Moloise, South Africa
- Aília Momplé, Mozambique (1935- )
- Tierno Monénembo, Guinea
- Isabelle Montplaisir, Côte d'Ivoire
- Yolanda Morazzo, Cape Verde (1928- )
- Diana Mordasini, Senegal
- Casey Motsisi, South Africa
- Phaswane Mpe, South Africa
- Ezekiel Mphahlele, South Africa
- Evelyne Mpudi Ngnole, Cameroon (1953- )
- Jusitne M'Poyo Kassa-Vubu, Congo (1951- )
- Oswald Mtshali, South Africa
- Thérèse Muamini, Rwanda
- V.Y. Mudimbe, Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Amélia Muge, Mozamibque (1952- )
- Micere Mugo, Kenya (1942- )
- Yolande Mukagasana, Rwanda
- Charles Mungoshi, Zimbabwe
- Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa, South Africa
- Betty (Elisabeth) Mweya Tol'Ande, Congo, (1947- )
N
- Rosalie Nana, Côte d'Ivoire (1962- )
- Justine Nankam, Cameroon
- Jabula Ndebele, South Africa
- Alix Ndefu, Cameroon (1974- )
- Aminata Ndiaye, Senegal (1974- )
- Catherine N?Diaye, Senegal (1952- )
- Marie Ndiaye, Senegal (born in France) (1967- )
- Fatou Sow Ndiaye, Senegal
- Ndèye Doury Ndiaye, Senegal (1936- )
- Mariama Ndoye, Senegal
- Jeanne Mgo Maï, Cameroon (1933- )
- Geneviève Ngosso Kouo, Cameroon
- Marie Julie Nguetse, Cameroon
- Mzamane Nhlapo, Lesotho
- Anne Marie Niane, Senegal (born in Vietnam) (1950- )
- Djibril Tamsir Niane, Senegal
- Mame Bassine Niang, Senegal (1951- )
- Fatou Niang Siga, Senegal (1932- )
- Goley Niantié Lou, Côte d'Ivoire
- Mike Nicol, South Africa
- Marlene van Niekerk, South Africa
- Suzy Henique Nikiéma, Burkina Faso (1983- )
- Rebeka Njau, Kenya (1930- )
- Josette Eveyne Njock, Cameroon
- Rabiatou Njoya, Cameroon (1945- )
- Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana (1909-1972)
- Kavidi Wivine N?Landu, Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Arthur Nortje, South Africa (1942-1970)
- Mpho ?Masepo Nthunya, Lesotho
- Francine N?Toumi, see Francine Laurans
- Martina Awele Nwakoby, Nigeria (1937- )
- Flora Nwapa, Nigeria (1931-1993)
- Nadine Nyangoma, Guinea-Bissau (born in Belgium)
- Sibusiso Nyembezi, South Africa
- Clémentine Nzuji, Congo (Democratic Republic) (1944- )
O
- Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang, Gabon
- Asenath Bole Odaga, Kenya
- Grace Ogot, Kenya (1930- )
- Molara Ogundipe, Nigeria
- Tanure Ojaide, Mauritius (1948- )
- Christopher Okigbo, Nigeria
- Ben Okri, Nigeria
- Osonye Tess Onwueme, Nigeria (1955- )
- Yambo Ouologuem, Mali (1940- ) Mali
- Sembène Ousmane, Senegal
- Helen Ovbiagele, Nigeria (1944- )
- Ferdinand Oyono, Cameroon
P
Q
R
S
- Jehan Sadat, Egypt (1933- )
- Tayeb Salih, Sudan
- Dina Salústio, Cape Verde (1941- )
- Colette Samoya Kiruya, Burundi (1952- )
- Ana Julia Monteiro Sança, Cape Verde (1949- )
- Bernadette Sanou Dao, Mali (1952- )
- Adiza Sanoussi, Burkina Faso
- Glória de Santana, Mozambique (1925- )
- Rosa de Saron, Cape Verde
- Williams Sassine, Guinea
- Ghislaine Sathoud, Congo-Brazzaville (1969- )
- Riana Scheepers, South Africa
- Alan Scholefield, South Africa
- Olive Schreiner, South Africa (1855-1920)
- Marinette Secco, Côte d'Ivoire (born in France) (1921- )
- Mama Seck Mbacke, Senegal
- Ahmed Sefrioui, Morocco
- Sahle Sellassie, Ethiopia (1936- )
- Fama Diagne Sène, Senegal (1969- )
- Léopold Senghor, Senegal (1906-2001)
- Sipho Sepamla, South Africa
- Mongane Wally Serote, South Africa (1944- )
- Robert Bin Shaaban, Tanzania
- Marie-Simone Séri, Burkina Faso/Côte d'Ivoire
- Haïdara Fatoumata Sirantou, Côte d'Ivoire
- Gillian Slovo, South Africa
- Adam Small, South Africa
- Alexander McCall Smith, Zimbabwe/Botswana
- Wilbur Smith, South Africa (1932- )
- Zulu Sofolo, Nigeria (1935?/1938?- )
- Kelwyn Sole, South Africa
- Ahdaf Soueif, Egypt
- Noémia de Sousa, Mozambique (1926- )
- Aminata Sow Fall, Senegal (1941- )
- Amina Sow Mbaye, Senegal (1937- )
- Wole Soyinka, Nigeria (1934- ), awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Wilma Stockenstrom, South Africa (1933- )
- Efua Theodora Sutherland, Ghana (1924- )
- Khady Sylla, Senegal (1963- )
T
- Véronique Tadjo, Côte d'Ivoire (1955- )
- Tchicaya U Tam'si, Congo (Brazzaville)
- Paula Tavares, Angola (1952- )
- Fanta-Taga Tembely, Mali (1946- )
- José Francisco Tenreiro, São Tomé and Príncipe (1921-1963)
- Can Themba, South Africa (1924-1969)
- Marie Bernadette Tiendrébéogo, Guinea (1958- )
- Miriam Tlali, South Africa (1933- )
- Abibatou Traoré, Senegal (1973- )
- Gabre-Medhin Tsegaye, Ethiopia (1936- )
- Kabika Tshilolo, Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Marie-Leontine Tsibinda, Congo-Brazzaville
- Hama Tuma, Ethiopia (1949- )
- Marie Rose Turpin, Senegal (1957- )
- Amos Tutuoma, Nigeria
U
V
W
- Ugonna Wachuku, Nigeria (1971- ), has been living in Geneva, Switzerland since March 1996
- Ngugi wa Mirii, Kenya (1951- )
- Ngugi wa Thiongo, Kenya (1938- )
- Graham Walker, South Africa
- Myriam Warner Vieyra, Senegal (born in Guadeloupe) (1939- )
- Stephen Watson, South Africa (1955- )
- Werewere-Liking Gnepo, Cameroon/Côte d'Ivoire (1950- )
- Zoe Wicomb, South Africa
- Ken Wiwa, Nigeria
- Mammo Wudneh, Ethiopia
- Christopher van Wyk, South Africa
X
Y
Yamusangie, Frederick Kambemba (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Z
See also: List of African writers (by country), Lists of authors
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