List of Nigerian writers

A

Chris Abani (born 1966), novelist, playwright and poet

Chinua Achebe (1930–2013), novelist, poet and critic

Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (born 1951), academic

Remi Adedeji (born 1937), children's writer and academic editor

Abimbola Adelakun, novelist

Sade Adeniran, novelist and filmmaker

Toyin Adewale-Gabriel (born 1969), poet

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977), novelist and poet

S. A. Afolabi (born 1966)

Ifeoma Aggrey-Fynn (d. 2015), writer

Tolu Ajayi (born 1946), poet and writer of fiction

Yemi Ajibade (1929–2013), playwright and actor

Audrey Ajose (born 1937?), journalist and juvenile fiction writer

Uwem Akpan (born 1971), Jesuit priest and writer

Hauwa Ali (died 1995), novelist

Akilu Aliyu (1918–1998), poet

Zaynab Alkali (born 1950), novelist, short-story writer and academic

T. M. Aluko (1918–2010), novelist and autobiographer

Elechi Amadi (1934–2016), novelist

Ifi Amadiume (born 1947), poet, anthropologist and essayist

Karen King-Aribisala, short-story writer, novelist and academic

Yemisi Aribisala, (1973– ) essayist and food memoirist

Sefi Atta (born 1964), novelist, short-story writer and playwright

Uche Azikiwe (born 1947), author

Nnorom Azuonye (born 1967), theatre director, playwright and poet

B

Rotimi Babatunde

Biyi Bandele (born 1967)

A. Igoni Barrett (born 1979)

Lindsay Barrett (born 1941)

Olumbe Bassir (1919–2001)

Philip Begho (born 1956)

Bunmi Banjo (born 1977)

C

Chin Ce (born 1966)

Chinweizu (born 1943)

John Pepper Clark (born 1935)

Teju Cole (born 1975)

Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1807–1891), linguist, translator, diarist, explorer, writer

D

Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817)

Jude Dibia (born 1975)

Antera Duke, diarist

E

Michael Echeruo (born 1937), poet, critic

Amatoritsero (Godwin) Ede

Philip Effiong (1925–2003)

Cyprian Ekwensi (1921–2007)

Buchi Emecheta (1944–2017)

E. Nolue Emenanjo (born 1943)

Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745–97)

Rosemary Esehagu (born 1981)

Femi Euba (born 1942)

F

Daniel Olorunfemi Fagunwa (1903–1963), novelist

Adebayo Faleti (born 1930)

Toyin Falola (born 1953)

Dan Fulani

Bilkisu Funtuwa

G

Godspower Oboido (born 1988), poet and essayist

Ukawsaw Gronniosaw (1705–1775), autobiographer

H

Helon Habila (born 1967), novelist

Obo Aba Hisanjani (born 1949), poet

I

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (born 1979)

Ejikeme Ikwunze

Abubakar Imam (1911–1981)

Eghosa Imasuen (born 1976)

Tade Ipadeola (born 1970), poet

Akinwunmi Isola, playwright, dramatist, scholar

Uzodinma Iweala (born 1982)

Festus Iyayi (born 1947)

J

John Jea (1773-?)

Elnathan John (born 1982)

Samuel Johnson (1846–1901)

K

Toni Kan (born 1971)

L

Duro Ladipo (1931–1978)

Abimbola Lagunju (born 1960)

M

Amina Mama (born 1958)

Sarah Ladipo Manyika (born 1968)

Oliver Mbamara

Sebastian Okechukwu Mezu (born 1941)

Dele Momodu (born 1960)

John Munonye (born 1929)

N

Echezonachukwu Nduka (born 1989)

Uche Nduka (born 1963)

Martina Nwakoby (born 1937)

Nkem Nwankwo (1936–2001)

Flora Nwapa (1931–1993)

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (born 1976), novelist, humorist, essayist and journalist

Onuora Nzekwu (born 1928)

Onyeka Nwelue (1988)

Chuma Nwokolo (born 1963), writer, poet, humorist, essayist

Abdul Rasheed Na'Allah (born 1962), writer, poet, scholar, performer

O

Chigozie Obioma (born 1986)

Obiwu (born 1962), poet, theorist

Ike Odimegwu

Josephat Obi Oguejiofor

Olu Oguibe (born 1964)

Ike Oguine

Molara Ogundipe (born 1949)

Wole Oguntokun

Tanure Ojaide (born 1949), poet, critic

Gabriel Okara (born 1921), poet

Christopher Okigbo (1932–1967), poet

Nnedi Okorafor

Ifeoma Okoye (born 1937), novelist

Chinelo Okparanta

Isidore Okpewho (born 1941), novelist, critic

Ben Okri (born 1959), poet, novelist

Tanure Ojaide

Afolabi Olabimtan (1932–2003)

Olatubosun Oladapo (born 1943)

Ukamaka Olisakwe (born 1982)

Simbo Olorunfemi

Kole Omotosho (born 1943), novelist

Kola Onadipe (1922–1988)

Osonye Tess Onwueme (born 1955)

Nduka Onwuegbute (born 1969)

Ifeoma Onyefulu (born 1959)

Bukola Oriola (born 1976)

Dennis Osadebay (1911–1995), poet

Femi Osofisan (born 1946)

E. C. Osondu

Niyi Osundare (born 1947), poet

Helen Ovbiagele (born 1944)

Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí

R

Remi Sonaiya (born 1955)

Remi Raji (born 1961)

Babatunde Rotimi

Ola Rotimi (1938– 2000), novelist, theatre director and playwright

S

Ken Saro-Wiwa (1941–1995), playwright, novelist, poet

Mabel Segun (born 1930)

Lola Shoneyin (born 1974), novelist, poet

Zulu Sofola (1935–1995), playwright

Bode Sowande (born 1948), playwright

Wole Soyinka (born 1934), playwright, poet, novelist; awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature

T

Amos Tutuola (1920–1997), novelist

Kola Tubosun (1981– ), poet, essayist and linguist

U

Obiora Udechukwu (born 1946), poet

Adaora Lily Ulasi (born 1932), novelist

Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike (born 1975), poet

Chika Unigwe (born 1974), novelist

Sam Ukala (born 1948], playwright, prose fiction writer, poet

V

Mamman Jiya Vatsa (1944–1986), poet

Jumoke Verissimo (born 1979), poet

W

Ken Wiwa (1968–2016), biographer

Molara Wood (born 1969), short-story writer, journalist

Y

Balaraba Ramat Yakubu (born 1959), Hausa-language writer