A Movement Through Words: Young African Writers


By Joburg Post

This photo story is dedicated to young Africans. We look at young Africans that are changing the narrative through the power of words, from literature, script writing to spoken word art and poetry.


Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche


Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist, writer of short stories, and nonfiction.


Kabelo "Sello" Duiker


Kabelo "Sello" Duiker, was a South African novelist. His debut novel, Thirteen Cents, won the 2001 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book, Africa Region. His second novel, The Quiet Violence of Dreams, won the 2002 Herman Charles Bosman Prize. He also worked in advertising and as a screenwriter.


Xabiso Zweni - For Port Elizabeth playwright and actor Xabiso Zweni 2018 was the year to reap the fruit of his labour and, although he already has plans for 2019, he feels it was too “big” a year to surpass as yet. Since delivering his first-ever performance in grade 9 at Victoria Park High School 17 years ago, Zweni has over the years quietly and consistently grown into one of PE’s most influential actors and activists in the drama and theatre space.


Chika Ungiwe


Chika Nina Unigwe is a Nigerian-born Igbo author who writes in English and Dutch. In April 2014 she was selected for the Hay Festival's Africa39 list of 39 sub-Saharan African writers aged under 40 with potential and talent to define future trends in African literature.


Koleka Putuma


Koleka Putuma is an award-winning poet, playwright and theatre director. Her bestselling debut collection of poems Collective Amnesia has taken the South African literary scene by storm.



Dambudzo Marechera


Dambudzo Marechera was a Zimbabwean novelist, short story writer, playwright and poet. His short career produced a book of stories, two novels, a book of plays, prose, and poetry, and a collection of poetry.





Dami Ajayi


Dami Àjàyí is a Nigerian poet, medical doctor, and music critic. Along with Emmanuel Iduma, he co-founded Saraba Magazine in 2008. He is the author of two collections of poetry and a chapbook.


Unathi Hills

Indie writer and critic Unathi Slasha’s novella Jah Hills is a missed opportunity, but the writer has still brandished an authentic, albeit cynical, literary approach through which to see the world – that of Afro-pessimism.



Yewande Omotoso



Yewande Omotoso is a South African-based novelist, architect and designer, who was born in Barbados and grew up in Nigeria. She is the daughter of Nigerian writer Kole Omotoso, and the sister of film maker Akin Omotoso. She currently lives in Johannesburg.


Nakhane Toure


BlackBird Books Presents Piggy Boy's Blues, Award-winning Muso Nakhane Toure's Debut Novel. “I Wanted People to Hate Me!” – Nakhane Toure Chats about Killing off His Characters at the Open Book Festival. Nakhane Toure's Debut Novel Piggy Boy's Blues Is “Magic” – Pumla Dineo Gqola.


Chibundu Onuzo



Imachibundu Oluwadara Onuzo FRSL is a Nigerian novelist. Her first novel, The Spider King's Daughter, won a Betty Trask Award, was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Commonwealth Book Prize, and was longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Etisalat Prize for Literature.



Uphile Chisala- Born in 1994 and raised in Zomba, Malawi, writer Upile Chisala hopes to tell stories from the margins and, through her work, to help others and herself come to terms with pasts, celebrate presents, and confidently dream beautiful futures.


Mohale Mashigo, born Kgomotso Carol Mashigo is a South African award-winning singer-songwriter, novelist, and former radio presenter. Her debut novel The Yearning won the 2016 University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Debut Writing and has been longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award 2018.




-JP

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