# List of African poets

This is a list of African poets. Contemporary Africa has a range of important poets across many different genres and cultures. Poetry in Africa details more on the history and context of contemporary poetry on the continent.
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z

## A

* Chris Abani, Nigeria
* Maria do Carmo Abecassis, Mozambique
* Mohammed Abed Elhai, Sudan
* Lionel Abrahams, South Africa
* P. A. K. Aboagye, Ghana
* Mohammed Achaari, Morocco
* Chinua Achebe, Nigeria
* Catherine Obianuju Acholonu, Nigeria
* Elhadi Adam, Sudan
* Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, Nigeria
* Tatamkulu Afrika, South Africa
* Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghana
* Funso Aiyejina, Nigeria
* Grace Akello, Uganda
* Mohammed ibn Mohammed Alami, Morocco
* Mohammed ibn Idris al-Amrawi, Morocco
* Kaddour El Alamy, Morocco
* Abu Salim al-Ayyashi, Morocco
* Sebastião Alba, Mozambique
* Mike Alfred, South Africa
* AlKabli, Sudan
* Akilu Aliyu, Nigeria
* Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, Sudan
* Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, Nigeria
* Jean Amrouche, Algeria
* Ingrid Andersen, South Africa
* Tyrone Appollis, South Africa
* Eseohe Arhebamen (a.k.a. Edoheart), Nigeria
* Khadambi Asalache, Kenya
* Nana Asma'u, Nigeria
* Hennie Aucamp, South Africa
* Mohammed Awzal, Morocco
* Ayo Ayoola-Amale, Nigeria
* Ali Azaykou, Morocco
* Étienne Azéma, Réunion
* Jean-Henri Azéma, Réunion
* Nnorom Azuonye, Nigeria

## B

* Mildred Barya, Uganda
* Ali Birra, Ethiopia
* J. Benibengor Blay, Ghana
* Kwesi Brew, Ghana
* Angèle Bassolé-Ouédraogo, Côte d'Ivoire
* Tanella Boni, Côte d'Ivoire
* Ali Bu'ul, Somaliland
* Mohammed Ben Brahim, Morocco
* Siham Benchekroun, Morocco
* Abdelmajid Benjelloun, Morocco
* Hafsa Bikri, Morocco
* Al-Buzidi al-Bujrafi, Morocco
* Philip Begho, Nigeria
* Alioune Badara Bèye, Senegal
* Gabeba Baderoon, South Africa
* Shabbir Banoobhai, South Africa
* Sinclair Beiles, South Africa
* Robert Berold, South Africa
* Vonani Bila, South Africa
* Peter Blum, South Africa
* Roy Blumenthal, South Africa
* Tanella Boni, Côte d'Ivoire
* Breyten Breytenbach, South Africa
* Dennis Brutus, South Africa
* Abena Busia, Ghana
* Akosua Busia, Ghana
* Guy Butler, South Africa

## C

* Robert Calvert, South Africa
* Roy Campbell, South Africa
* Gladys Casely-Hayford, Ghana
* Jan F. E. Celliers, South Africa
* Steve Chimombo, Mali
* Chirikure Chirikure, Zimbabwe
* Yvette Christiansë, South Africa
* Charl Cilliers, South Africa
* J. P. Clark Nigeria
* Jack Cope, South Africa
* Mia Couto, Mozambique
* Jeni Couzyn, South Africa
* José Craveirinha, Mozambique
* Jeremy Cronin, South Africa
* Patrick Cullinan, South Africa
* Gary Cummiskey, South Africa
* Sheila Cussons, South Africa
* Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, Nigeria

## D

* Mohammed Dib, Algeria
* Tahar Djaout, Algeria
* Viriato da Cruz, Angola
* Bernadette Sanou Dao, Burkina Faso
* Mbella Sonne Dipoko, Cameroon
* Kwame Dawes, Ghana
* Bernard Binlin Dadié, Côte d'Ivoire
* Fily Dabo Sissoko, Mali
* Souéloum Diagho, Mali
* David Diop, Senegal
* Achmat Dangor, South Africa
* Johann de Lange, South Africa
* Dertigers, South Africa
* Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, South Africa
* Isobel Dixon, South Africa
* Angifi Dladla, South Africa
* Finuala Dowling, South Africa
* Saddiq Dzukogi, Nigeria

## E

* Michael Echeruo, Nigeria
* Amatoritsero Ede, Nigeria
* Elisabeth Eybers, South Africa
* Bushra Elfadil, Sudan
* Mohammed Moftahh Elfitory, Sudan
* John Eppel, Zimbabwe

## F

* Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria
* Allal al-Fassi, Morocco
* Abd al-Rahman al-Fazazi, Morocco
* Achour Fenni, Algeria
* Diana Ferrus, South Africa
* Kite Fiqi, Somaliland
* Sheila Meiring Fugard, South Africa

## G

* Ahmed Gabyow, Somalia
* Gaariye, Somaliland
* Abdul Raheem Glailati, Sudan
* Keith Gottschalk, South Africa
* William Wellington Gqoba, South Africa
* Stephen Gray, South Africa
* Josué Guébo, Ivory Coast
* Mafika Gwala, South Africa
* Gabriel Awuah Mainoo, Ghana

## H

* Hadraawi, Somalia
* Malek Haddad, Algeria
* Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, Somalia
* Gebre Hanna, Ethiopia
* Mohammed al-Haik, Morocco
* Allal El Hajjam, Morocco
* Hamdun ibn al-Hajj al-Fasi, Morocco
* Mohammed al-Harraq al-Alami, Morocco
* David Hassine, Morocco
* Sulayman al-Hawwat, Morocco
* Dorian Haarhoff, Namibia
* Helon Habila, Nigeria
* Obo Aba Hisanjani, Nigeria
* Megan Hall, South Africa
* Joan Hambidge, South Africa
* Ernst van Heerden, South Africa
* C. M. van den Heever, South Africa
* Colleen Higgs, South Africa
* Christopher Hope, South Africa
* Peter Horn, South Africa
* Allan Kolski Horwitz, South Africa
* Chenjerai Hove, Zimbabwe

## I

* Ismail ibn al-Ahmar, Morocco
* Idriss ibn al-Hassan al-Alami, Morocco
* Ibn al-Khabbaza, Morocco
* Malik ibn al-Murahhal, Morocco
* Ahmad Ibn al-Qadi, Morocco
* Mohammed ibn Qasim ibn Zakur, Morocco
* Ibn Zaydan, Morocco
* Chinweizu Ibekwe, Nigeria
* Adamou Idé, Niger
* Abdi Bashir Indhobuur, Somalia
* I. D. du Plessis, South Africa
* Ibrahim 'Ali Salman, Sudan
* Salah Ahmed Ibrahim, Sudan

## J

* António Jacinto, Angola
* Abu al-Abbas al-Jarawi, Morocco
* Joseph ben Judah of Ceuta, Morocco
* Ahmed Joumari, Morocco
* John Jea, Nigeria
* Alan James, South Africa
* José Craveirinha, Mozambique
* Noémia de Sousa, Mozambique
* Wopko Jensma, South Africa
* Emmanuel Taiwo Jegede, Nigeria
* Liesl Jobson, South Africa
* Sarah Johnson, South Africa
* Ingrid Jonker, South Africa

## K

* Ajaib Kamal, Kenya
* Jonathan Kariara, Kenya
* Bai T. Moore, Liberia
* Stanley Onjezani Kenani, Malawi
* Mohammed Khammar Kanouni, Morocco
* Mohammed Khaïr-Eddine, Morocco
* Aryan Kaganof, South Africa
* Anne Kellas, South Africa
* Keorapetse Kgositsile, South Africa
* Ntšeliseng ʻMasechele Khaketla, Lesotho
* Sheila Khala, Lesotho
* Mbongeni Khumalo, South Africa
* Olga Kirsch, South Africa
* Uys Krige, South Africa
* Antjie Krog, South Africa
* Anton Robert Krueger, South Africa
* Mazisi Kunene, South Africa
* Abdellatif Laabi, Morocco
* Wafaa Lamrani, Morocco
* Ahmed Lemsih, Morocco
* Mandla Langa, South Africa
* Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven, South Africa
* Pule Lechesa, South Africa
* C. Louis Leipoldt, South Africa
* Douglas Livingstone, South Africa
* Nicolaas Petrus van Wyk Louw, South Africa
* W. E. G. Louw, South Africa
* Taban Lo Liyong, Sudan

## M

* Christopher Mwashinga, Tanzania
* Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye, Kenya
* Jack Mapanje, Malawi
* Felix Mnthali, Malawi
* Ahmed al-Madini, Morocco
* Abdelaziz al-Maghrawi, Morocco
* Abderrahman El Majdoub, Morocco
* Abdelaziz al-Malzuzi, Morocco
* Zindzi Mandela, South Africa
* Zahra Mansouri, Morocco
* Dambudzo Marechera, Zimbabwe
* Barbara Masekela, South Africa
* Al-Masfiwi, Morocco
* Lebogang Mashile, South Africa
* Dada Masiti, Somalia
* Thami Mdaghri, Morocco
* Ahmed Mejjati, Morocco
* Gcina Mhlophe, South Africa
* Lucien Xavier Michel-Andrianarahinjaka, Madagascar
* Mohammed Bennis, Morocco
* Peya Mushelenga, Namibia
* Mohammed al-Mokhtar Soussi, Morocco
* Rozena Maart, South Africa
* Kim McClenaghan, South Africa
* Michelle McGrane, South Africa
* Don Maclennan, South Africa
* Muhammad Ahmad Mahgoub, Sudan
* D. F. Malherbe, South Africa
* Clinton Marius, South Africa
* John Mateer, South Africa
* Don Mattera, South Africa
* Mulumba Ivan Matthias, Uganda
* John Matshikiza, South Africa
* James Matthews, South Africa
* Mzwakhe Mbuli, South Africa
* Joan Metelerkamp, South Africa
* Ruth Miller, South Africa
* Amitabh Mitra, South Africa
* Kobus Moolman, South Africa
* Rose Moss, South Africa
* Isabella Motadinyane, South Africa
* Modikwe Dikobe, South Africa
* Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi, South Africa
* Fadhy Mtanga, Tanzania
* Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, South Africa
* Malkat Ed-Dar Mohamed, Sudan
* Tumi Molekane, Tanzania
* Mukotani Rugyendo, Uganda
* Micere Githae Mugo, Kenya
* Hassan Sheikh Mumin Somalia
* Solomon Mutswairo, Zimbabwe
* Togara Muzanenhamo, Zimbabwe
* Rasaq Malik, Nigeria

## N

* Hans Daniel Namuhuja, Namibia
* Mririda n'Ait Attik, Morocco
* Okey Ndibe, Nigeria
* Uche Nduka, Nigeria
* Echezonachukwu Nduka, Nigeria
* Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ, Kenya
* Mostafa Nissaboury, Morocco
* Arthur Nortje, South Africa
* Pitika Ntuli, South Africa

## O

* Chike Obi, Nigeria
* Okello Oculi, Uganda
* Odia Ofeimun, Nigeria
* Tanure Ojaide, Nigeria
* Atukwei Okai, Ghana
* Gabriel Okara, Nigeria
* Diego Odoh Okenyodo, Nigeria
* Christopher Okigbo, Nigeria
* Ben Okri, Nigeria
* Olatubosun Oladapo, Nigeria
* Onwuchekwa Jemie, Nigeria
* D. J. Opperman, South Africa
* Niyi Osundare, Nigeria
* Romeo Oriogun, Nigeria

## P

* Okot p'Bitek, Uganda
* Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Ghana
* Shailja Patel, Kenya
* Lenrie Peters, Gambia
* William Plomer, South Africa
* Louis-Marie Pouka, Cameroon
* Karen Press, South Africa

## Q

* Alfred Themba Qabula, South Africa

## R

* Lesego Rampolokeng, South Africa
* Esther Razanadrasoa (1892–1931), Madagascar
* Francis William Reitz, South Africa
* Rustum Kozain, South Africa
* Gely Abdel Rahman, Sudan
* Ras Nas, Tanzania
* Shaaban Bin Robert, Tanzania
* David Rubadiri, Malawi

## S

* Peter M. Sacks, South Africa
* Abdelhadi Said, Morocco
* Arja Salafranca, South Africa
* Tijan M. Sallah, Gambia
* Dina Salústio, Cabo Verde
* Francisco Santos, Angola
* Mabel Segun, Nigeria
* Jean Sénac, Algeria
* Léopold Sédar Senghor, Senegal
* Sipho Sepamla, South Africa
* Sjaka Septembir, South Africa
* Mohamed Serghini, Morocco
* Mongane Wally Serote, South Africa
* Shaykh Sufi, Somalia
* Warsan Shire, Somalia
* Lola Shoneyin, Nigeria
* Si Mohand, Algeria
* Ari Sitas, South Africa
* Adam Small, South Africa
* Noémia de Sousa, Mozambique
* Wole Soyinka, Nigeria
* Lina Spies, South Africa
* Bakari Sumano, Mali
* Efua Sutherland, Ghana

## T

* Abdelkarim Tabbal, Morocco
* Véronique Tadjo, Côte d'Ivoire
* Hemmou Talb, Morocco
* Eugène Terre'Blanche, South Africa
* Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade, Somalia
* Frédéric Pacéré Titinga, Burkina Faso
* Mohamud Siad Togane, Somalia
* Totius, South Africa
* Houcine Toulali, Morocco
* Aida Touré, Gabon

## V

* Mamman Jiya Vatsa, Nigeria
* Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, South Africa
* Wayne Visser, South Africa
* Gert Vlok Nel, South Africa

## W

* Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, Liberia
* Phillis Wheatley, Gambia or Senegal
* Crystal Warren, South Africa
* Stephen Watson, South Africa
* Mary Morison Webster, South Africa
* George Weideman, South Africa
* Ngudia Wendel, Angola
* Hein Willemse, South Africa
* David Wright, South Africa
* Christopher van Wyk, South Africa
* Chapanga Wilson, Tanzania

## X

* Makhosazana Xaba, South Africa
* Cali Xuseen Xirsi, Somalia

## Y

* Mvula ya Nangolo, Namibia
* Shadya Yasin, Somalia

## Z

* Mohamed Zafzaf, Morocco
* Moufdi Zakaria, Algeria
* Abed Elrahim Abu Zakrra, Sudan
* Musaemura Zimunya, Zimbabwe
* Abdallah Zrika, Morocco