List of Malawian writers

This is a list of Malawian writers.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

• Tito Banda (1950–2014), novelist, academic ^[1]
• Ezra Jofiya Chadza (1923–1985), poet and novelist
• William Chafulumira (1908–1981), writer on social issues ^{[2] [3]}
• Yesaya Chibambo, author of A Short History of the Ngoni (1933), translated into English by Rev. Charles Stuart. ^[4]
• Shadreck Chikoti (b. 1979), writer and social activist
• Lula Pensulo (b. 1991) author, translator, and poet ^[5]
• Kelvin Sulugwe (b. 1990), entrepreneur, diplomat; author of In Honest Ways. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}
• Steve Chimombo (1945–2015), writer, poet, editor and teacher ^[11]
• Frank Chipasula (b. 1949), poet, writer, editor, publisher and academic ^[11]
• Reuben Chirambo (d. 2011), scholar of African literature ^[12]
• Robert Chiwamba, poet ^[13]
• Tobias Dossi, author of a novel (1958) and humorous short stories (1965) in Chichewa. ^[14]
• Aloysius Dziko, author of a novel in Chichewa (1965). ^[14]
• Walije Gondwe (b. 1936), Malawi's first female novelist ^[15]
• John Gwengwe, author of novels in Chichewa (1965, 1968). ^[14]
• Aubrey Kachingwe (b. 1926), novelist and short story writer ^{[3] [11]}
• Lawrence Kadzitche, short story writer ^[16]
• Samson Kambalu (b. 1975), artist and autobiographer
• William Kamkwamba (b. 1987), inventor and author
• Gertrude Webster Kamkwatira (1966–2006), playwright
• Whyghtone Kamthunzi (1956–2000), novelist in Chichewa
• Legson Kayira (1942–2012), novelist and autobiographer ^{[3] [11]}
• Stanley Onjezani Kenani (b. 1976), writer and poet
• Ken Lipenga (b. 1954), politician, journalist and writer ^[11]
• John Lwanda (b. 1949), biographer, poet, doctor, publisher
• Qabaniso Malewezi (b. 1979), spoken-word poet ^[17]
• Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga (b. 1962), poet and broadcaster ^[18]
• Jack Mapanje (b. 1944), writer and poet ^[11]
• Emily Mkamanga (b. 1949), novelist and social commentator
• Felix Mnthali (b. 1933), poet, novelist and playwright ^[11]
• Francis Moto (b. 1952), writer, academic, and diplomat
• Sam Mpasu (b. 1945), novelist and politician; author of prison memoirs
• Edison Mpina (1946–2001), poet ^[11]
• Mpalive Msiska (living), academic
• Ndongolera Mwangupili (b. 1977), poet and short story writer
• George Mwase (c.1885–1962), author of a historical account of the 1915 rebellion, published 1967 (2nd edn. 1970). ^[19]
• Anthony Nazombe (1955–2004), poet and academic ^[11]
• Innocent Masina Nkhonyo (b. 1987), short story writer and poet
• Jolly Max Ntaba (1946–1993), novelist in Chichewa and English ^[20]
• Samuel Josia Ntara or Nthara (1905–1979), novelist and historian ^{[3] [21] [22]}
• D. D. Phiri (Desmond Dudwa Phiri), economist, historian and playwright ^[3]
• Bonwell Kadyankena Rodgers (b. 1991), author and editor ^[23]
• David Rubadiri (1930–2018), diplomat, academic and poet ^{[3] [11]}
• Tendai M. Shaba (b. 1989), author, writer and poet ^{[24] [25]}
• Paul Tiyambe Zeleza (b. 1955), historian, critic and writer
• Barnaba Zingani (b. 1958), novelist in Chichewa and English, teacher.
• Willie Zingani (b. 1954), novelist in English and Chichewa, journalist, poet, playwright ^[26]

See also

• Media of Malawi
• List of African writers by country

References

1. Nyasa Times obituary. "Malawi writer, media trainer dies: Tito Banda | Malawi Nyasa Times – Malawi breaking news in Malawi". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
2. Dictionary of African Christian Biography.
3. Janheinz Jahn; Ulla Schild; Almut Nordmann Seiler (1972). Who's Who in African Literature: Biographies, Works, Commentaries. Horst Erdmann Verlag. ISBN   978-3-7711-0153-4.
4. B. Pachai, "Samuel Josiah Ntara: Writer and Historian", The Society of Malawi Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2 (July 1968), pp. 60–66; page 60.
5. "Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine". archive.org. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
6. "Kelvin Sulugwe".
7. "Kelvin Sulugwe".
8. "Akometsi founder, Kelvin Sulugwe publishes a book". Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
9. "Kelvin Sulugwe Tackles Personal Growth, Mental Health in New Book". August 2022.
10. "In Honest Ways: A reminder of why you must do what you have to do", Amazon.
11. Killam, Douglas & Ruth Rowe, eds., The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press; 2000. ISBN   0-253-33633-3
12. University of South Africa obituary, 10 October 2011.
13. Malawi 24 news 6 Nov 2015
14. Chimombo, Steve (1987), "Creative Writing in Malawi: A Bibliography" Research in African Literatures, Vol. 18, No. 3, Special Issue on the Concept of National Literature (Autumn 1987), pp. 336–339.
15. Lars Eckstein, ed., English Literatures Across the Globe: A Companion, p. 122-3.
16. "News story about Kadzitche's publications". Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
17. Precious Kalolo, "Qabaniso 'Q' Malewezi reflects with ‘The Road Taken’" "Timve Magazine » Qabaniso 'Q' Malewezi reflects with 'The Road Taken'". Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2014., Timeve Magazine.
18. Alfred Msadala, "A look at Bededicto Wokomaatani Malunga", Destined for great things: papers, 1999, pp. 27–8.
19. Albert S. Gérard (1986), European-Language writing in Sub-Southern Africa, p. 962.
20. "Profile in the Daily Nation April 4, 2014". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
21. WorldCat identities
22. B. Pachai, "Samuel Josiah Ntara: Writer and Historian" The Society of Malawi Journal Vol. 21, No. 2 (July 1968), pp. 60–66.
23. Author of Miyambi ya Patsokwe (Chichewa proverbs) (2015) and Mpandamachokero (Malawian tales) (2015); editor of Chisimba cha Alakatuli (anthology of Chichewa poems) (2015).
24. "Shaba revives poetry". 17 July 2020.
25. "Tendai Shaba comes out with new poetry". 19 April 2021.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
26. Yvonnie Sundu, "Willie Zingani: A Writer of All Ages" Archived 18 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine , profile in the Daily Nation newspaper, 18 April 2014.