List of Tanzanian writers

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This is a list of Tanzanian writers.

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• Agoro Anduru (1948–1992), short story writer{{listref|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{{listref|Gikandi}} {{listref|Killam & Rowe}}
• Ebrahim N. Hussein (b. 1943), playwright, essayist, poet and translator{{listref|Gikandi}} {{listref|Gikandi & Mwangi}} {{listref|Killam & Rowe}}
• Prince Kagwema (b. 1931), novelist{{listref|Killam & Rowe}}
• Euphrase Kezilahabi (1944–2020), novelist, poet and scholar
• Jacqueline Massawe, poet[http://www.theafronews.eu/cover_stories-jacqueline_kibacha_social_justice_poet_and_activist_1585.html Jacqueline Kibacha, social justice poet and activist] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313075832/http://www.theafronews.eu/cover_stories-jacqueline_kibacha_social_justice_poet_and_activist_1585.html |date=13 March 2011 }}.The AfroNews, 15 December 2009.
• Aniceti Kitereza (1896–1981), novelist
• Elieshi Lema (b. 1949), novelist, children's author and publisher{{cite web |url=http://www.cca.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/tow-past-participants/46-tow-2013/207-elieshi-lema-tanzania |title=Elieshi Lema (Tanzania) |publisher=Centre for Creative Arts |accessdate=2015-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624071348/http://www.cca.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/tow-past-participants/46-tow-2013/207-elieshi-lema-tanzania |archive-date=24 June 2017 |url-status=dead }}
• Amandina Lihamba (b. 1944), playwright'Lihamba, Amandina', in Simon Gikandi & Evan Mwangi, The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945, pp. 94–5.
• Ismael R. Mbise, novelist and academic{{listref|Gikandi}}
• Penina Mlama (b. 1948), playwrightLee Nichols, Conversations with African Writers: interviews with twenty-six African authors, 1981, pp. 139ff.
• Sandra A. Mushi (b. 1974), fiction writer, poet[http://www.edvisionpublishing.co.tz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=87&Itemid=1 Profiled] in Soma Magazine
• Elvis Musiba (d. 2010), businessman and Swahili novelistJudica Tarimo, [http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/?l=22747 EA Community mourns Musiba], IPP Media, 4 November 2010.
• 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{{listref|Gikandi & Mwangi}}
• Nancy Sumari, children's book author and publisher [https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/magazine/success/MEET-THE-AUTHOR--Writing-for-a-future-generation/1843788-2431250-yvti4p/index.html MEET THE AUTHOR: Writing for a future generation]
• Peter Palangyo (1939–1993), novelist{{listref|Gikandi}} {{listref|Gikandi & Mwangi}} {{listref|Killam & Rowe}}
• Hammie Rajab, Swahili novelistMikhail D. Gromov, [http://www.ifeas.uni-mainz.de/SwaFo/SF_15_02_Gromov.pdf Swahili Popular Literature in Recent Years] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929150240/http://www.ifeas.uni-mainz.de/SwaFo/SF_15_02_Gromov.pdf |date=29 September 2011 }}, Swahili Forum 15 (2008):5–13
• Shaaban Robert (1909–1962), Swahili novelist and poet{{listref|Gikandi}}
• Emily Ruete (1844–1924), Princess of Zanzibar
• Gabriel Ruhumbika (b. 1938), novelist and short story writer{{listref|Gikandi}} {{listref|Killam & Rowe}}
• Edwin Semzaba, novelist, playwright, actor and director
• Robert Bin Shaaban (1902–1962), poet, author and essayist
• Shafi Adam Shafi, Swahili novelistXavier Garnier, Le roman swahili: la notion de littérature mineure à l'épreuve, 2006, p. 122.
• Erica Sugo Anyadike, writer of short stories
• Eric Shigongo (b. 1969), novelist, media entrepreneur, and politician{{cite web |title=Eric J. Shigongo |url=https://tanzania.mom-gmr.org/en/owners/individual-owners/detail/owner/owner/show/eric-j-shigongo/ |website=Media Ownership Monitor |publisher=Reporters Without Borders |access-date=2025-05-14}}
• Hussein Issa Tuwa, Swahili novelist and award-winning author{{cite web |title=Hussein Tuwa – Writer Profile |url=https://www.stage32.com/profile/910516/about |website=Stage32 |access-date=2025-05-14}}

• Richard Mabala, writer of short stories, Columnist and poet (1949– ){{Cite web |last=cfeditoren |date=2022-02-27 |title=Mabala's 40 years in Tanzania and advice on Kiswahili |url=https://www.africa-press.net/tanzania/all-news/mabalas-40-years-in-tanzania-and-advice-on-kiswahili |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=Tanzania |language=en-US}}
• Joseph Marwa, novelist, poet and actor (1999– ){{Cite book |last=Marwa |first=Quartzy-Joseph |url=https://daml.kohavt.org/Hoopla/15355794 |title=Irene: The Andromeda |date=2022 |publisher=Pencil |isbn=9-789-356-10584-3 |location= |language=en |others=Dorothy Alling Memorial Library}}
• Nahida Esmail, writer of short stories and social activist{{Cite web |title=Award-winning Tanzanian Writer Nahida Esmail |url=https://www.writersspace.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/nahida-esmail-scaled.jpg |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=Writers Space Africa |language=en-GB}}{{div col end}}