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.
- 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]
See: List of Burkinabé writers
- Esther Kamatari (1951– )
- Ketty Nivyabandi[2]
See: List of Cameroonian writers
- 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]
- 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
See: List of Republic of the Congo writers
See: List of Democratic Republic of the Congo writers
- Waberi Abdourahman (1965– ), novelist, poet and academic[Gikandi]
- Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (1972– ), French-language novelist[5]
- 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]
- Reesom Haile (2003– ), Tigrinya-language poet[6]
- Saba Kidane (1978– ), Tigrinya poet
- Alemseged Tesfai (1944– ), English-language playwright[7]
- 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)
- 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]
- 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
- 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]
- 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
- 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
- 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
See: List of Mozambican writers
- 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]
- 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]
See: List of Senegalese writers
- Antoine Abel (1934– ), poet and fable writer[Gikandi]
See: List of Sierra Leonean writers
- 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
See: List of South African writers
- 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]
See: List of Tanzanian writers
- Mohamed Fadel Ismail Ould Es-Sweyih (1958–2002), journalist and politician
- Ahmed Baba Miské, writer, diplomat and politician
- 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– )
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
- ^ "Batswapong history revealed". Mmegi.bw. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Ketty Nivyabandi", World Literature Today, March 2014
- ^ Acheikh ibn Oumar, Fiche de lecture de: "Fils de nomade, les mémoires du dromadaire" – Khayar Oumar Defallah, 11 February 2010.
- ^ "1ère ÉDITION DES JOURNÉES TCHADIENNES AU SÉNÉGAL: Pour vivifier un héritage culturel". Lematindafrique.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Mouna-Hodan Ahmed: An author from Djibouti writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ Charles Cantalupo, Reesom Haile's poetry
- ^ Jane Plastow, "Alemseged Tesfai: a playwright in the service of Eritrean liberation", in Banham et al, African theatre in development, 1999, pp. 54–60.
- ^ "Peggy Lucie Auleley: lauréate du concours ACCT". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. 1999-06-03. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Justine Mintsa: An author from Gabon writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang: An author from Gabon writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. 2003-09-19. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ Albert S. Gérard, European-Language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Volume 1, p. 286.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Benghazi-Born Poet Mattawa Reflects on Growing up Under Gadhafi, PBS Newshour, 2 March 2011.
- ^ "Local author Neshani Andreas dead". The Namibian. May 17, 2011.
- ^ Sven Rosenow. "Die Biographie von Gilselher W. Hoffmann". Afrikaroman.de. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Palimage: Olinda Beja". Palimage.pt. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ Cavaleiro da Torre (2004-02-27). "Torre da História Ibérica: Admirável Mário Domingues". Torredahistoriaiberica.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ Morreu a poetisa são-tomense Manuela Margarido, Publico, 11 March 2007.
- ^ Hans M. Zell, Carol Bundy, Virginia Coulon, A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, 1983, p. 498.
- ^ Elias Munshya wa Munshya, Zambia: Chibamba Kanyama’s Controversy: A Review of “Business Values for our Time”, Lusaka Times 31 October 2010
- ^ Albert S. Gérard, African Language Literatures: an introduction to the literary history of Sub-Saharan Africa, 1981, p. 227.
- ^ Eric Gondwe, Charles Mwewa, Zambian.com
- ^ Zambian Economist review
References
- [Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge; 2002. ISBN 978-0-415-23019-3
- [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
- [Killam & Rowe] Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds., The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press; 2000. ISBN 0-253-33633-3
- [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