FAMOUS WRITERS IN NIGERIA

1. Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian poet, novelist, professor, and critic. Often
described as Africa's greatest storyteller, Achebe is widely regarded as
the father of modern African writing. He was the recipient of several awards
and honors, including the Man Booker International Prize 2007. His
novel Things Fall Apart is one of the most read books in Africa.
Chinua Achebe’s Famous Works
Novels: He was an outstanding writer some of his best novels are Things Fall
Apart, No Longer at Ease, A Man of People, Arrow of God, and Anthills of the
Savannah.
Other Works: Besides novels, he tried his hands on poetry and shorter fiction.
Some of them include “Marriage is a Private Affair”, “Dead man’s Path”, “Civil
Peace”, “Another Africa” and “Don’t Let Him Die.”

Novels
Things fall apart
No Longer at Ease
A Man of People
Arrow of God
Anthills of the Savannah.

2. Wole Soyinka
Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, poet, and essayist. In 1986, he
became the first sub-Saharan African to be honored with the Nobel Prize in
Literature. He worked with the Royal Court Theatre in London as a young man.
In Nigeria, he was actively involved in the country’s freedom struggle. He has
taught at various international universities.
Poem
Abiku
 This poem is written from the perspective of ‘Abiku’, a Yoruba mystical
child who dies after birth and returns in subsequent births only to die again
and torment its parents with grief. Abiku is undoubtedly one of the best poems
by Wole Soyinka.
Soyinka's first novel, The Interpreters came out in 1965 and is a story seen
through the eyes of recent university graduates who have come back to Nigeria
to play a role in the evolution of a newly independent country. Soyinka's
writing is sensitive and vivid. He captures the characters as they struggle to
become a part of the new Nigeria.

In 1973 Soyinka wrote Season of Anomy, which was derived from experiences
he had in prison. It introduces the use of vivid details and myth and offers an
engaging, realistic look at ritual. The novel attempts to make sense of the
upheaval of the status quo and represents an attempt to achieve wholeness of
community, which was clearly lacking.

3. Gabriel Okara
Gabriel Okara was a Nigerian novelist and poet best remembered for his
experimental novel, The Voice. Over the course of his career, Okara won several
prestigious awards such as the Commonwealth Poetry Prize and the Nigeria
Prize for Literature. Nicknamed the Nigerian Negritudist, Gabriel Okara was the
first poet of Anglophone African origin to embrace modernism.
One of Okara’s most famous poems is “Piano and Drums “. Another popular
poem, “You Laughed and Laughed and Laughed”, is a frequent feature of
anthologies.

4. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer and feminist. She is
popular for writing novels, such as Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun.
She is credited with popularizing African literature among a new generation of
readers, especially in the United States. In 2015, she was named in Time
magazine's 100 Most Influential People list.
FAMOUS WRITERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

1. Zakes Mda
Zakes Mda is a unique writer, but he is still just as celebrated as any
other writer in South African history. Because of the apartheid of South Africa,
people of European and African descent look at the country in very different
lights. That is precisely what shines through in the work of Mda.
He was born in South Africa but grew up in Lesotho before moving to America
and returning to South Africa. Much of his work deals with the development of
South Africa following the end of colonial rule. He often felt like an outsider in
his native country, which stands out in his work.
2. J. M. Coetze
J. M. Coetze won the Nobel Prize in 2003 and is widely recognized as one
of the greatest South African writers of all time. He is not afraid to take on
issues that have a lot of political slant to them, and he is unabashed in calling
out issues he sees in his native South Africa. Many of his works focus on
symbols, as his characters portray various aspects of South African society
that he sees daily.
One of his most famous works is Waiting for the Barbarians, which
paints a picture of a country devoid of any issues Coetzee calls out in his other
works. This powerful narrative has made him one of the most celebrated
writers in the history of South Africa. If you want to explore the works of
Coetzee for yourself, start with Waiting for the Barbarians.
3. Damon Galgut
Damon Galgut had a traumatic childhood. He needed to deal with the
social issues in modern South Africa, but he was also diagnosed with cancer at
the age of six. As a result, many of his works focus on traumatic experiences.

One of his most famous books is titled The Good Doctor. It was one of his later
works, but it received nearly universally positive feedback. This book explores
the stalemate in the political system of South Africa using a hospital word as a
vehicle for this powerful symbolism. His skill with language is impressive, and
it has made him one of the most well-respected writers in the history of South
Africa.
FAMOUS WRITERS IN EGYPT

1. Ahdaf Soueif
Ahdaf Soueif is one of the most popular Modern Egyptian writers. A
prolific novelist and political campaigner, Soueif has become a force as an
author and an activist. She was one of the leaders of the Arab Spring protests,
which led to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak.
Before this, she was a critically acclaimed novelist. Her most famous work is
titled The Map of Love. In addition to her work on this novel, she wrote
extensively on the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which has been going
on for thousands of years. She continues to write beautifully to this day.
2. Nawal El Saadwi
Nawal El Saadwi is a popular female writer from Egypt. During the
course of her prolific career, she has written on a variety of topics. She is also a
physician, psychiatrist, and activist. She is one of the most powerful leaders
who advocate for the rights of women not only in Egypt but also throughout the
Arab world. Many of her books focus on the subject of women, with two of her
most popular works being Memoirs from the Women’s Prison and The Fall of
the Imam.
3. Yusuf Idris
Yusuf Idris is one of the most popular Egyptian writers of all time.
During the course of his prolific career, he wrote novels, plays, and even a
short story or two. Similar to numerous other Egyptian authors, he did not
train to be a writer when he was younger. Instead, he actually trained to be a
doctor during his time at the University of Cairo. Eventually, he decided that
his life would be better served in the world of literature.
Even though he has several marquee works, his most popular work is titled Al-
Farafeer. This is a play that focuses on two characters who are completely
different from each other. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize for literature
several times, and he won an award named after another Egyptian author, the
Naguib Mahfouz medal, for his book titled City of Love and Ashes. Check out
City of Love and Ashes.
4. Alaa Al Aswany
Alaa Al Aswany is a prolific Egyptian writer. Originally from Cairo, he is the
founding member of a political movement called Kefaya. Through his work and
ideas, he speaks to drive changes that take place in Egypt for the benefit of
everyone who lives there, including middle-class families. Two of his most
popular works include Chicago and The Yacoubian Building. His work is well-
respected for his powerful use of imagery.