African Writers

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 (1959–), judge, human rights activist, writer and minister of basic education
* Bessie Head (1937–1986), novelist and short-story writer born in South Africa
* Leetile Disang Raditladi (1910–1971), playwright and poet
* Barolong Seboni (1957–), poet and academic

Burkina Faso

''See: List of Burkinabé writers''

Burundi

* Esther Kamatari (1951–)
* Ketty Nivyabandi (1978–)
* Gaël Faye (1982–)

Cameroon

''See: List of Cameroonian writers''

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

* Pierre Makombo Bamboté (1932–), novelist and poet
* Etienne Goyémidé (1942–1997), novelist, poet and short story writer: ''Le Silence de la Foret''
* Blaise N'Djehoya (1953–), novelist
* Cyriaque Robert Yavoucko (1953–), novelist
* Adrienne Yabouza (1965–), novelist

Chad

* Salma Khalil Alio (1982–), poet, short story writer and artist.
* Khayar Oumar Deffalah (c. 1944–), politician and autobiographical writer
* Ali Abdel-Rhamane Haggar (1960–), economist and writer
* Marie-Christine Koundja (1957–), novelist and diplomat
* Koulsy Lamko (1959–), playwright, poet, novelist and university lecturer
* Joseph Brahim Seid (1927–1980), writer and politician
* Ahmat Taboye, literary critic

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

''See: List of Ivorian writers''

Djibouti

* Waberi Abdourahman (1965–), novelist, poet and academic
* Mouna-Hodan Ahmed (1972–), French-language novelist

Egypt

''See: List of Egyptian writers''

Equatorial Guinea

* María Nsué Angüe (1945–2017), novelist and writer
* Justo Bolekia Boleká (1954–), professor and Bubi writer
* Juan Balboa Boneke (1938–2014), politician and writer
* Raquel Ilombé (1938–1992), Spanish-language writer
* Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (1966–), Annobonese writer
* Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo (1950–), writer and journalist

Eritrea

* Hamid Barole Abdu (1953–), non-fiction
* Reesom Haile (2003–), Tigrinya-language poet
* Saba Kidane (1978–), Tigrinya poet
* Hannah Pool (1974–), journalist
* Alemseged Tesfai (1944–), English-language playwright

Ethiopia

* Sahle Selassie (c. 1795–1847)
* Haddis Alemayehu (1910–2003)
* Michael Daniel Ambatchew (1967–2012)
* Āfawarq Gabra Iyasus (1868–1947)
* Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin (1936–2006)
* Moges Kebede
* Tāddasa Lībān
* Tsehay Melaku
* Dinaw Mengestu (1978–)
* Maaza Mengiste (1974–)
* Nega Mezlekia (1958–)
* Martha Nasibù (1931–2020)
* Lemn Sissay (1967–)
* Hama Tuma (1949–)
* Mammo Wudneh (1931–2012)
* Birhānu Zarīhun (1933/4–1987)
* Nega Mezlekia (1958–)

Gabon

* Jean-Baptiste Abessolo (1932–), educator and short story writer
* Peggy Lucie Auleley, French-language poet and novelist
* Bessora (1968–, in Belgium), novelist and short story writer
* Charline Effah (1977–), French-language novelist and educator
* Rene Maran, born near Martinique (1887–1960), poet and novelist
* Chantal Magalie Mbazoo-Kassa, French-language poet and novelist
* Justine Mintsa (1967–), French-language novelist
* Nadège Noëlle Ango Obiang (1973–), French-language short story writer
* Nadia Origo (1977–), novelist and publisher
* Honorine Ngou (1957–), novelist and academic
* Vincent de Paul Nyonda (1918–1995), playwright
* Maurice Okoumba-Nkoghe (1954–), poet and teacher
* Laurent Owondo (1948–2019), playwright
* Angèle Ntyugwetondo Rawiri (1954–2010), novelist

The Gambia

Ghana

''See: List of Ghanaian writers''

Guinea

''See: List of Guinean writers''

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 (1960–)
* Hélder Proença (died 2009)
* Carlos Semedo, poet
* Abdulai Silla (1958–)

Kenya

''See: List of Kenyan writers''

Lesotho

* David Cranmer Theko Bereng (1900–1974), Sotho poet
* Caroline Ntseliseng Khaketla (1918–2012)
* Simon Majara (1924–), Sotho novelist
* Zakea D. Mangoaela (1883–1963), folklorist
* Thomas Mofolo (1876–1948), novelist
* A. S. Mopeli-Paulus (1913–1960), novelist
* Edward Motsamai (1870–1959), politician and writer
* Kem Edward Ntsane (1920–?), Sotho poet and novelist
* Basildon Peta (1972–), journalist
* Everitt Lechesa Segoete (1858–1923), religious and social writer
* Azariele M. Sekese (1849–1930), Basotho author and historian
* Joseph I. F. Tjokosela (c. 1911–?), Catholic writer and teacher

Liberia

* Edwin Barclay (1882–1955), politician and writer
* Thomas E. Besolow (c.1867–?), autobiographical writer
* 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
* Hawa Jande Golakai (1979–)
* Bai T. Moore (1916–1988), poet, novelist, folklorist and essayist
* Wilton G. S. Sankawulo (1937–2009), politician and author
* Vamba Sherif (1973–)

Libya

* Wafa Albueise (1973–), lawyer and writer
* Sadiq Al-Nayhum (1937–1994), Islamic writer, critic and journalist
* Khalifa al-Fakhri, short story writer
* Ahmed Fagih (1942–2019), novelist
* Muammar al-Gaddafi (1942–2011), politician and occasional novelist
* Ibrahiem El-kouni (1948–), novelist
* Latifa al-Zayyat (1923–1996), activist and novelist

Madagascar

''See: List of Malagasy writers''

Malawi

* Tito Banda (1950–2014), novelist, academic
* Ezra Jofiya Chadza (1923–1985), poet and novelist
* William Chafulumira (1908–1981), writer on social issues
* Lula Pensulo (b. 1991) author, translator, and poet
* Yesaya Chibambo, author of ''A Short History of the Ngoni'' (1933), translated into English by Rev. Charles Stuart.
* Shadreck Chikoti (b. 1979), writer and social activist
* Steve Chimombo (1945–2015), writer, poet, editor and teacherKillam, Douglas & Ruth Rowe, eds., ''The Companion to African Literatures''. James Currey & Indiana University Press; 2000.
* Frank Chipasula (b. 1949), poet, writer, editor, publisher and academic
* Reuben Chirambo (d. 2011), scholar of African literature
* Robert Chiwamba, poet
* Tobias Dossi, author of a novel (1958) and humorous short stories (1965) in Chichewa.
* Aloysius Dziko, author of a novel in Chichewa (1965).Chimombo, Steve, (1987
"Creative Writing in Malawi: A Bibliography"
''Research in African Literatures'', Vol. 18, No. 3, Special Issue on the Concept of National Literature (Autumn, 1987), pp. 336-339
* Walije Gondwe (b. 1936), Malawi's first female novelist
* John Gwengwe, author of novels in Chichewa (1965, 1968).
* Aubrey Kachingwe (b. 1926), novelist and short story writer
* Lawrence Kadzitche, short story writer
* Samson Kambalu (b. 1975), artist and autobiographer
* William Kamkwamba (b. 1987), inventor and author
* Gertrude Webster Kamkwatira (1966–2006), playwright
* Whyghtone Kamthunzi (1956–2000), novelist in Chichewa
* Legson Kayira (1942–2012), novelist and autobiographer
* Stanley Onjezani Kenani (b. 1976), writer and poet
* Ken Lipenga (b. 1954), politician, journalist and writer
* John Lwanda (b. 1949), biographer, poet, doctor, publisher
* Qabaniso Malewezi (b. 1979), spoken-word poet
* Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga (b. 1962), poet and broadcaster
* Jack Mapanje