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- )
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)
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 Principe (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

Monique Ilboudo, Burkina Faso
Moses Isegawa, Uganda

J

Noni Jabuvi, South Africa (1919?/1921?- )
Rayda Jacobs, South Africa
Fhazel Johennesse, South Africa
Samuel Johnson, Nigeria
Archibald Campbell Jordan, South Africa
Elsa Joubert, South Africa (1922-

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

Essop Patel, South Africa
Alan Paton, South Africa (1903 - 1988)
Valérie Pascaud-Junot, Senegal (born in France)
Okot P?Bitek, Uganda
Grace Emmanuelle Peh, Cameroon
Pepetela, Angola
Anne Piette, Senegal (born in France) (1943- )
Sol T. Plaatje, South Africa
Menan du Plessis, South Africa (1952- )

Q

Pascale Quao-Gaudens, Côte d'Ivoire (1963- )

R

Jean-Joseph Rabéarivelo, Madagascar (1901?/1902?/1904?-1937)
Charlotte Arrissoa Rafenomanjato, Madagascar
Michèle Rakotoson, Madagascar
Oum Ramatou, Niger (1970- )
Angèle Ntyugwetondo Rawiri, Gabon
Cristiane Remino-Granel, Côte d'Ivoire? (born on Martinique)
Alifa Rifaat, Egypt
Sheila Roberts, South Africa (1937- )
Utto Rodolph, see Yambo Ouologuem

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

Françoise Ugochukwu, Nigeria (born in France)
Adaoa Lily Ulasi, Nigeria (1932- )
Marie-Aimable Umurerwa, Rwanda
Marie Béatrice Umutesi, Rwanda (1959- )

V

Van Onselen, South Africa
Gustavus Vassa, see Olaudah Equiano
M.G. Vassanji, Kenya
Amplia Veiga, Angola (born in Portugal) (1931- )
Yvonne Vera, Zimbabwe (1964- )
José Luandino Vieira, Mozambique
Benedict Vilakazi, South Africa
Lettie Viljoen, South Africa (1948- )
Dev Virasawmy, Mauritius

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
Mammo Wudneh, Ethiopia
Christopher van Wyk, South Africa

X

Y

Kateb Yacine, Algeria
Ouologuem Yambo
Caroline Angèle Yao, Côte d'Ivoire
Regina Yaou, Côte d'Ivoire (1955- )
Annie Yapobi, Côte d'Ivoire
Brigitte Yengo, Congo
Yonko Nana Tabitha, Cameroon

Yamusangie, Frederick Kambemba (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Z

Julienne Zanga, Cameroon (1973- )
Delphine Zanga Tsogo, Cameroon (1935- )
Mohammed Zefzaf, Morocco
Rose Zwi, South Africa, born in Mexico

See also: List of African writers (by country), Lists of authors

External Links

Contemporary Africa Database