16 African Writers Whose Work You Should Be Reading

    We asked attendees at the Africa Writes literature and book festival to tell us their favourite African writers.

    Bim Adewunmi
    by Bim Adewunmi

    Culture Editor, BuzzFeed UK

    1. Chinua Achebe

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    – Christina, from Nigeria.

    "I first read him when I was eight years old."

    2. Elnathan John

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    – Angela, from London.

    3. Tsitsi Dangarembga

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    – Rumbi, from Essex.

    4. Sefi Atta

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    – Chibundu, from Lagos.

    "Can I do more than one? Then I'd like to add Mariama Bâ and Wole Soyinka."

    5. Ben Okri

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    – Onyinye, from Italy.

    6. Steve Biko

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    – Amandla, from London.

    7. Ayi Kwei Armah

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    – Shirley, from London.

    "I need to get more of his books!"

    8. Teju Cole

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    – Maya, from Princeton.

    9. Bessie Head

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    – Belinda, from London.

    "Can I do more than one?"

    10. Danai Gurira

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    – Zoe, from London.

    "She started writing plays because there was nothing for her as a woman of colour. Creating your space is what I'm trying to do in my own life."

    11. Teju Cole

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    – Saeed, from Jos, Nigeria.

    12. Tsitsi Dangarembga

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    – Cherub, from London.

    "I can't pick just one!"

    13. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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    – Jennifer, from Kent.

    14. Jude Dibia

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    – Bisi, from London.

    15. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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    – Caroline, from London.

    "Argh, I spelt her name wrong! Sorry, Chimamanda."

    16. Chinua Achebe

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    – Saraiya, from London.

    17. Abhimanyu Unnuth

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    – Rashi, from London.

    "I think he talks about post-independence, particularly, in a beautiful way."

    18. Frances Mensah Williams

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    – Mark, from London.

    19. Maaza Mengiste

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    – Bilen, from Ethiopia.

    "I like how she writes about sensitive subjects."

    20. Dambudzo Marachera

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    – Henry, from London.

    "His writing is beautiful...there's something visceral about the language he uses."

    21. Sefi Atta

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    – Tricia, from Ipswich.