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.
[Algeria]
''See: List of Algerian writers''[Angola]
''See: List of Angolan writers''[Benin]
''See: List of Beninese writers''[Botswana]
- Unity Dow, judge, human rights activist, writer and minister of basic education
- Bessie Head, novelist and short-story writer born in South Africa
- Leetile Disang Raditladi, playwright and poet
- Barolong Seboni, poet and academic
[Burkina Faso]
''See: List of Burkinabé writers''[Burundi]
[Cameroon]
''See: List of Cameroonian writers''[Central African Republic]
- Pierre Makombo Bamboté, novelist and poet
- Etienne Goyémidé, novelist, poet and short story writer: Le Silence de la Foret
- Blaise N'Djehoya, novelist
- Cyriaque Robert Yavoucko, novelist
- Adrienne Yabouza, novelist
[Chad]
- Salma Khalil Alio, poet, short story writer and artist.
- Khayar Oumar Deffalah, politician and autobiographical writer
- Ali Abdel-Rhamane Haggar, economist and writer
- Marie-Christine Koundja, novelist and diplomat
- Koulsy Lamko, playwright, poet, novelist and university lecturer
- Joseph Brahim Seid, writer and politician
- Ahmat Taboye, literary critic
Congo (Brazzaville)">Republic of the Congo">Congo (Brazzaville)
''See: List of Republic of the Congo writers''Congo (Democratic Republic) – formerly Zaïre">Democratic Republic of the Congo">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, novelist, poet and academic
- Mouna-Hodan Ahmed, French-language novelist
[Egypt]
''See: List of Egyptian writers''[Equatorial Guinea]
- María Nsué Angüe, novelist and writer
- Justo Bolekia Boleká, professor and Bubi writer
- Juan Balboa Boneke, politician and writer
- Raquel Ilombé, Spanish-language writer
- Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel, Annobonese writer
- Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo, writer and journalist
[Eritrea]
- Hamid Barole Abdu, non-fiction
- Reesom Haile, Tigrinya-language poet
- Saba Kidane, Tigrinya poet
- Hannah Pool, journalist
- Alemseged Tesfai, English-language playwright
[Ethiopia]
- Sahle Selassie
- Haddis Alemayehu
- Michael Daniel Ambatchew
- Āfawarq Gabra Iyasus
- Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin
- Moges Kebede
- Tāddasa Lībān
- Tsehay Melaku
- Dinaw Mengestu
- Maaza Mengiste
- Nega Mezlekia
- Martha Nasibù
- Lemn Sissay
- Hama Tuma
- Mammo Wudneh
- Birhānu Zarīhun
- Nega Mezlekia
[Gabon]
- Jean-Baptiste Abessolo, educator and short story writer
- Peggy Lucie Auleley, French-language poet and novelist
- Bessora, novelist and short story writer
- Charline Effah, French-language novelist and educator
- Rene Maran, born near Martinique, poet and novelist
- Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa, French-language poet and novelist
- Justine Mintsa, French-language novelist
- Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang, French-language short story writer
- Nadia Origo, novelist and publisher
- Honorine Ngou, novelist and academic
- Vincent de Paul Nyonda, playwright
- Maurice Okoumba-Nkoghe, poet and teacher
- Laurent Owondo, playwright
- Angèle Ntyugwetondo Rawiri, novelist
[Ghana]
''See: List of Ghanaian writers''[Guinea]
''See: List of Guinean writers''[Guinea-Bissau]
- Amílcar Cabral, agronomist, writer and politician
- Vasco Cabral
- José Carlos Schwarz, poet and musician
- Fausto Duarte, from Cape Verde
- Carlos Lopes
- Hélder Proença
- Carlos Semedo, poet
- Abdulai Silla
[Kenya]
''See: List of Kenyan writers''[Lesotho]
- David Cranmer Theko Bereng, Sotho poet
- Caroline Ntseliseng Khaketla
- Simon Majara, Sotho novelist
- Zakea D. Mangoaela, folklorist
- Thomas Mofolo, novelist
- A. S. Mopeli-Paulus, novelist
- Edward Motsamai, politician and writer
- Kemuel Edward Ntsane, Sotho poet and novelist
- Basildon Peta, journalist
- Everitt Lechesa Segoete, religious and social writer
- Azariele M. Sekese, Basotho author and historian
- Joseph I. F. Tjokosela, Catholic writer and teacher
[Liberia]
- Edwin Barclay, politician and writer
- Thomas E. Besolow, autobiographical writer
- Edward Wilmot Blyden, born in the Virgin Islands, educator, writer, diplomat and politician
- Roland Tombekai Dempster, poet
- Hawa Jande Golakai
- Bai T. Moore, poet, novelist, folklorist and essayist
- Wilton G. S. Sankawulo, politician and author
- Vamba Sherif
[Libya]
- Wafa Albueise, lawyer and writer
- Sadiq Al-Nayhum, Islamic writer, critic and journalist
- Khalifa al-Fakhri, short story writer
- Ahmed Fagih, novelist
- Muammar al-Gaddafi, politician and occasional novelist
- Ibrahiem El-kouni, novelist
- Latifa al-Zayyat, activist and novelist
[Madagascar]
''See: List of Malagasy writers''[Malawi]
- Tito Banda, novelist, academic
- Ezra Jofiya Chadza, poet and novelist
- William Chafulumira, writer on social issues
- Lula Pensulo author, translator, and poet
- Yesaya Chibambo, author of A Short History of the Ngoni, translated into English by Rev. Charles Stuart.
- Shadreck Chikoti, writer and social activist
- Steve Chimombo, writer, poet, editor and teacher
- Frank Chipasula, poet, writer, editor, publisher and academic
- Reuben Chirambo, scholar of African literature
- Robert Chiwamba, poet
- Tobias Dossi, author of a novel and humorous short stories in Chichewa.
- Aloysius Dziko, author of a novel in Chichewa.
- Walije Gondwe, Malawi's first female novelist
- John Gwengwe, author of novels in Chichewa.
- Aubrey Kachingwe, novelist and short story writer
- Lawrence Kadzitche, short story writer
- Samson Kambalu, artist and autobiographer
- William Kamkwamba, inventor and author
- Gertrude Webster Kamkwatira, playwright
- Whyghtone Kamthunzi, novelist in Chichewa
- Legson Kayira, novelist and autobiographer
- Stanley Onjezani Kenani, writer and poet
- Ken Lipenga, politician, journalist and writer
- John Lwanda, biographer, poet, doctor, publisher
- Qabaniso Malewezi, spoken-word poet
- Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga, poet and broadcaster
- Jack Mapanje, writer and poet
- Emily Mkamanga, novelist and social commentator
- Felix Mnthali, poet, novelist and playwright
- Francis Moto, writer, academic, and diplomat
- Sam Mpasu, novelist and politician; author of prison memoirs
- Edison Mpina, poet
- Ndongolera Mwangupili, poet and short story writer
- George Mwase, author of a historical account of the 1915 rebellion, published 1967.
- Anthony Nazombe, poet and academic
- Innocent Masina Nkhonyo, short story writer and poet
- Jolly Max Ntaba, novelist in Chichewa and English
- Samuel Josia Ntara or Nthara, novelist and historian
- D.D. Phiri (Desmond Dudwa Phiri), economist, historian and playwright
- Bonwell Kadyankena Rodgers, author, translator and editor
- David Rubadiri, diplomat, academic and poet
- Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, historian, critic and writer
- Barnaba Zingani, novelist in Chichewa and English, teacher.
- Willie Zingani, novelist in English and Chichewa, journalist, poet, playwright
- Tendai M. Shaba, author, writer and poet
[Mali]
''See: List of Malian writers''[Mauritania]
- Ahmad ibn al-Amin al-Shinqiti, Arabic-language writer
- Ibn Razqa, poet and scholar
- Moussa Diagana, French-language writer
- Moussa Ould Ebnou, French-language novelist
- Abderrahmane Sissako, filmmaker
[Mozambique]
''See: List of Mozambican writers''[Niger]
''See: List of Nigerien writers''[Nigeria]
''See: List of Nigerian writers''[Rwanda]
''See: List of Rwandan writers''[São Tomé and Príncipe]
- Olinda Beja, novelist
- Sara Pinto Coelho, fiction writer and playwright
- Caetano da Costa Alegre, Portuguese-language poet
- Mário Domingues, novelist
- Conceição Lima, Portuguese-language poet
- Manuela Margarido, Portuguese-language poet
- Alda do Espírito Santo, Portuguese-language poet
- José Francisco Tenreiro, literary critic and poet
[Senegal]
''See: List of Senegalese writers''[Seychelles]
- Antoine Abel, poet and fable writer
[Sierra Leone]
''See: List of Sierra Leonean writers''[Somalia]
- Abdi Sheik Abdi, U.S.-based writer
- Mohamed Diriye Abdullahi, linguist and translator
- Maxamed Daahir Afrax, novelist, playwright and critic
- Elmi Boodhari, poet
- Ayaan Hirsi Ali, feminist and anti-Islam activist
- Ahmed Ibrahim Artan, diplomat, author and politician
- Jaamac Cumar Ciise, historian of Somali oral literature
- Waris Dirie, model and autobiographical writer
- Salaan Carrabey, poet
- Cristina Ali Farah, poet and novelist
- Farah Nur, poet and warrior
- Hussein Hasan, warrior and poet
- Nuruddin Farah, novelist
- Hadrawi, poet
- Yaasiin Cismaan Keenadiid, literary scholar
- Abdi Kusow, scholar and writer
- Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade, poet
- Nadifa Mohamed, novelist
- Gaariye, poet
- Mohamed Haji Mukhtar, historian and scholar
- Rageh Omaar, journalist
- Abdi Ismail Samatar, geographer
- Ahmed Ismail Samatar, writer and academic
- Dada Masiti, Ashraf poet, mystic and Islamic scholar
- Said S. Samatar, scholar and writer
- Cali Xuseen Xirsi, poet
- Shadya Yasin, poet
[South Africa]
''See: List of South African writers''[Sudan]
''See: List of Sudanese writers''[Swaziland]
- Modison Salayedvwa Magagula, playwright
- Stanley Musa N. Matsebula, economist and writer
- Elias Adam Bateng Mkhonta, novelist
- Sarah Mkhonza, 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, journalist and politician
- Ahmed Baba Miské, writer, diplomat and politician
[Zambia]
- Ellen Banda-Aaku, fiction, children's books
- Jack Avon, non-fiction, business books
- Kenneth Kaunda, nationalist and writer
- Chibamba Kanyama, journalist and business writer
- Andreya Sylvester Masiye, diplomat and novelist
- Dominic Mulaisho, novelist
- Charles Mwewa, poet and non-fiction writer
- Princess Zindaba Nyirenda, novelist
- Field Ruwe, educator, historian, media practitioner, author
- Namwali Serpell, fiction
- Monde Sifuniso, editor, publisher, author
- Binwell Sinyangwe