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 an incomplete list that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
- 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.
- Barolong Seboni (born 1957), poet and academic.
Burkina Faso
See: List of Burkinabé writers
Burundi
- Esther Kamatari (1951– )
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.[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]
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.[2]
- Ahmat Taboye, literary critic.
- Khayar Oumar Deffalah (c.1944– ), politician and autobiographical writer.[3]
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
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
- 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]
Eritrea
- 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.[7]
- 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.[8]
- Justine Mintsa (1967– ), French-language novelist.[9]
- Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang, French-language short story writer.[10]
- 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]
The Gambia
Main article: List of Gambian writers
Ghana
Guinea
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.[11]
- Odete Semedo (pt)
- Abdulai Silla
Kenya
Lesotho
Mpho Matsepo Nthunya of Lesotho
- Moroesi Akhionbare (1945– )
- Caroline Ntseliseng Khaketla (1918–)[12]
- Thomas Mofolo (1876–1948), novelist
- Mzamane Nhlapo
- Mpho Matsepo Nthunya
Liberia
- Edwin Barclay (1882–1955), politician and writer.
- Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832–1912), born in the Virgin Islands (see also Sierra Leone), educator, writer, diplomat and politician.
- Wilton G. S. Sankawulo (1937–2009), politician and author.
- Bai T. Moore (1916– ), poet, novelist, folklorist and essayist.[Killam & Rowe]
Libya
- Sadiq Al-Nayhum (1937–1994), Islamic writer, critic and journalist.[13]
- FKhalifa al-Fakhri, short story writer.[14]
- 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.
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
- 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.
- 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.[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]
- Dorian Haarhoff (1944– ), poet and academic.[Killam & Rowe]
- Giselher Werner Hoffmann (1958– ), German-language novelist.[15]
- Anoeschka von Meck, journalist and Afrikaans language writer.
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
- Olinda Beja (1946– ), novelist.[16]
- 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.[17]
- Alda do Espírito Santo (1926– ), Portuguese-language poet.[Gikandi]
- Mário Domingues (1899–1977), novelist.[18]
- José Francisco Tenreiro (1921–1963), literary critic and poet.[Gikandi][19]
Senegal
See: List of Senegalese writers
Seychelles
- Antoine Abel (1934– ), poet and fable writer.[Gikandi]
Sierra Leone
See: List of Sierra Leonean writers
Somalia
- Badal Kariye, writer, academic, Entrepreneur and diplomat.
- Ahmed Ismail Samatar (1950– ), writer and academic.
- Abdi Ismail Samatar (1950– ), geographer.
- Abdisalam Issa-Salwe, Somali-British academic.
- 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.[Killam & Rowe]
- 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
Swaziland
- 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]
Tanzania
See: List of Tanzanian writers
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
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.[Gikandi]
- Chibamba Kanyama, journalist and business writer.[20]
- Andreya Sylvester Masiye (1922– ), diplomat and novelist.[21]
- Dominic Mulaisho (1933– ), novelist.[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]
- Charles Mwewa, poet and non-fiction writer.[22]
- Keith Nalumango (1952– ), novelist and former head of programming at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.
- Princess Zindaba Nyirenda, novelist.[23]
- Field Ruwe (1955– ), Educator, historian, media practitioner, 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
Notes
- ↑ "Batswapong history revealed". Mmegi.bw. 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ↑ "1ère ÉDITION DES JOURNÉES TCHADIENNES AU SÉNÉGAL: Pour vivifier un héritage culturel". Lematindafrique.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ↑ Acheikh ibn Oumar, Fiche de lecture de: "Fils de nomade, les mémoires du dromadaire" – Khayar Oumar Defallah, 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Mouna-Hodan Ahmed: An author from Djibouti writing in French". Aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ↑ Jane Plastow, "Alemseged Tesfai: a playwright in the service of Eritrean liberation", in Banham et al, African theatre in development, 1999, pp. 54–60.
- ↑ Charles Cantalupo, Reesom Haile's poetry
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Sven Rosenow. "Die Biographie von Gilselher W. Hoffmann". Afrikaroman.de. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ↑ "Palimage: Olinda Beja". Palimage.pt. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ↑ Morreu a poetisa são-tomense Manuela Margarido, Publico, 11 March 2007.
- ↑ Cavaleiro da Torre (2004-02-27). "Torre da História Ibérica: Admirável Mário Domingues". Torredahistoriaiberica.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ↑ 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
<div class="reflist" " style=" list-style-type: square;">
- [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
External links
- Contemporary African Writers/Authors
- Africa Resource Research Data
- Lire les femmes – African women writers
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