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10 Notable African Writers

Chinua Achebe

Biggest Selling Title: Things Fall Apart
Short Bio: A Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, Achebe is best known for his novel Things Fall Apart, which is considered one of the most important works in African literature. His writing addresses the complexities of post-colonial identity.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Biggest Selling Title: A Grain of Wheat
Short Bio: A Kenyan writer and academic, Ngũgĩ is known for his novels, plays, and essays that explore the effects of colonialism and the struggle for independence in Kenya. He writes primarily in Gikuyu and English.

Wole Soyinka

Biggest Selling Title: Death and the King’s Horseman
Short Bio: The first African laureate to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist. His works often address themes of oppression and the human condition.

Buchi Emecheta

Biggest Selling Title: The Joys of Womanhood
Short Bio: A Nigerian novelist, Emecheta’s works focus on the experiences of women in Nigerian society, often highlighting issues of gender and cultural identity.

Nadine Gordimer

Biggest Selling Title: Burger’s Daughter
Short Bio: A South African writer and political activist, Gordimer received the Nobel Prize in Literature for her work that explores the complexities of life during apartheid in South Africa.

Mariama Bâ

Biggest Selling Title: So Long a Letter
Short Bio: A Senegalese author, Bâ’s novel So Long a Letter is a powerful exploration of women’s rights and the challenges faced by women in post-colonial Africa.

Teju Cole

Biggest Selling Title: Open City
Short Bio: A Nigerian-American writer and photographer, Cole’s works often blend fiction and non-fiction, exploring themes of identity, migration, and the urban experience.

Yaa Gyasi

Biggest Selling Title: Homegoing
Short Bio: A Ghanaian-American novelist, Gyasi’s debut novel Homegoing traces the lineage of two half-sisters and their descendants, exploring the impact of slavery on generations.

Sefi Atta

Biggest Selling Title: Everything Good Will Come
Short Bio: A Nigerian author, Atta’s works often focus on the lives of women in contemporary Nigeria, addressing themes of social change and personal identity.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Biggest Selling Title: Half of a Yellow Sun
Short Bio: A Nigerian writer and author of several acclaimed novels, Adichie’s work often explores themes of feminism, identity, and the Nigerian civil war.

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  1. Fun South African Fact: The Union Buildings in Pretoria house the President’s official offices. The site is worth a visit to marvel at a larger-than-life statue of Nelson Mandela as well as the immaculate gardens and grounds.

  2. Fun South African Fact: The Union Buildings in Pretoria are home to a larger than life Nelson Mandela statue.