List of Tanzanian writers

This is a list of Tanzanian 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.

• Agoro Anduru (1948–1992), short story writer ^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Mark Behr (1963–2015), fiction writer also connected with South Africa
• Fadhy Mtanga (b. 1981) novelist, poet and photographer
• Abdulrazak Gurnah (b. 1948), novelist and critic ^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Ebrahim N. Hussein (b. 1943), playwright, essayist, poet and translator ^{[Gikandi] [Gikandi & Mwangi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Prince Kagwema (b. 1931), novelist ^{[Killam & Rowe]}
• Euphrase Kezilahabi (1944–2020), novelist, poet and scholar
• Jacqueline Massawe, poet ^[1]
• Aniceti Kitereza (1896–1981), novelist
• Elieshi Lema (b. 1949), novelist, children's author and publisher ^[2]
• Amandina Lihamba (b. 1944), playwright ^[3]
• Ismael R. Mbise, novelist and academic ^[Gikandi]
• Penina Mlama (b. 1948), playwright ^[4]
• Sandra A. Mushi (b. 1974), fiction writer, poet ^[5]
• Elvis Musiba (d. 2010), businessman and Swahili novelist ^[6]
• Godfrey Mwakikagile (b. 1949), writer and specialist in African studies
• Christopher Mwashinga (b. 1965), poet, Christian non-fiction writer, and essayist
• Ras Nas, musician and poet
• Julius Nyerere (1922–1999), politician and writer ^{[Gikandi & Mwangi]}
• Nancy Sumari, children's book author and publisher ^[7]
• Peter Palangyo (1939–1993), novelist ^{[Gikandi] [Gikandi & Mwangi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Hammie Rajab, Swahili novelist ^[8]
• Shaaban Robert (1909–1962), Swahili novelist and poet ^[Gikandi]
• Emily Ruete (1844–1924), Princess of Zanzibar
• Gabriel Ruhumbika (b. 1938), novelist and short story writer ^{[Gikandi] [Killam & Rowe]}
• Edwin Semzaba, novelist, playwright, actor and director
• Robert Bin Shaaban (1902–1962), poet, author and essayist
• Shafi Adam Shafi, Swahili novelist ^[9]
• Erica Sugo Anyadike, writer of short stories
• Eric Shigongo (b. 1969), novelist, media entrepreneur, and politician ^[10]
• Hussein Issa Tuwa, Swahili novelist and award-winning author ^[11]

• Richard Mabala, writer of short stories, Columnist and poet (1949– ) ^[12]
• Joseph Marwa, novelist, poet and actor (1999– ) ^[13]
• Nahida Esmail, writer of short stories and social activist ^[14]

See also

• Tanzanian literature
• List of African writers by country
• List of Tanzanians

References

1. Jacqueline Kibacha, social justice poet and activist Archived 13 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine .The AfroNews, 15 December 2009.
2. "Elieshi Lema (Tanzania)". Centre for Creative Arts. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
3. 'Lihamba, Amandina', in Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945, pp. 94–5.
4. Lee Nichols, Conversations with African Writers: interviews with twenty-six African authors, 1981, pp. 139ff.
5. Profiled in Soma Magazine
6. Judica Tarimo, EA Community mourns Musiba, IPP Media, 4 November 2010.
7. MEET THE AUTHOR: Writing for a future generation
8. Mikhail D. Gromov, Swahili Popular Literature in Recent Years Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Swahili Forum 15 (2008):5–13
9. Xavier Garnier, Le roman swahili: la notion de littérature mineure à l'épreuve, 2006, p. 122.
10. "Eric J. Shigongo". Media Ownership Monitor. Reporters Without Borders. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
11. "Hussein Tuwa – Writer Profile". Stage32. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
12. cfeditoren (27 February 2022). "Mabala's 40 years in Tanzania and advice on Kiswahili". Tanzania. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
13. Marwa, Quartzy-Joseph (2022). Irene: The Andromeda. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Pencil. ISBN   9-789-356-10584-3.
14. "Award-winning Tanzanian Writer Nahida Esmail". Writers Space Africa. Retrieved 5 January 2023.

1. [Gikandi] Simon Gikandi, ed., Encyclopedia of African Literature. Routledge; 2002. ISBN   978-0-415-23019-3
2. [Killam & Rowe]Douglas Killam & Ruth Rowe, eds., The Companion to African Literatures. James Currey & Indiana University Press; 2000. ISBN   0-253-33633-3