Zimbabwean authors, despite their diverse backgrounds and styles, share a common thread: a deep engagement with the history, culture, and social landscape of their country. Their preoccupations and themes are often rooted in the experiences of ordinary Zimbabweans, grappling with issues of identity, post-colonialism, political turmoil, and the search for belonging. They explore the complexities of human relationships, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of storytelling.
This is a list of twenty of the best Zimbabwean authors:
Doris Lessing (1919-2013):
A British-Zimbabwean novelist, Lessing is best known for her Children of Violence series, which chronicles the lives of a white family in colonial Southern Rhodesia. She is also the author of The Golden Notebook (1962), a groundbreaking novel that explores the experiences of a female intellectual in the 1950s. Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007.
John Eppel (born 1947):
A Zimbabwean novelist, short story writer, and poet, John Eppel is known for his versatile and insightful work, which explores a wide range of themes, including identity, postcolonialism, social and political commentary, and the experiences of ordinary Zimbabweans. His debut novel, D.G.G. Berry’s The Great North Road (1992), won the M-Net Prize in South Africa, showcasing his ability to weave captivating narratives that delve into historical and contemporary realities. Eppel’s subsequent novels, such as Hatchings (1993), The Giraffe Man (1994), and The Curse of the Ripe Tomato (2001), further solidified his reputation as a prominent voice in Zimbabwean literature, consistently delivering thought-provoking and engaging stories that resonate with readers both within and beyond the country’s borders.
Charles Mungoshi (1947-2016):
A Zimbabwean novelist, poet, and short story writer, Mungoshi is known for his realistic and often poignant work, which captures the experiences of ordinary Zimbabweans in the post-colonial era. His most famous novel, Coming of the Dry Season (1997), is a multi-generational saga that follows the lives of a Zimbabwean family from the colonial period to the post-independence era. Mungoshi is also the author of One Day Long Ago (2003), a novel for young adults, and In the Year of the Locust (2002), a collection of short stories.
Alexander McCall Smith (born 1948):
A prolific Scottish-Zimbabwean novelist, legal scholar, and academic, Alexander McCall Smith has garnered international acclaim for his captivating blend of humor, social commentary, and intricate character development. His most renowned creation, the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, featuring the endearing and astute Mma Precious Ramotswe, has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, captivating readers with its heartwarming tales of Botswana’s only female detective and her insightful observations on human nature. McCall Smith’s vast literary output extends beyond detective fiction, encompassing works such as the 44 Scotland Street series, the Sunday Philosophy Club series, and numerous children’s books, demonstrating his versatility and ability to connect with readers of all ages. His works are often characterized by their gentle humor, keen social insights, and exploration of diverse cultures, making him a beloved author and a significant figure in contemporary literature.
Dambudzo Marechera (1952-1987):
A Zimbabwean novelist, essayist, and poet, Marechera is known for his experimental and often challenging work, which explores themes of identity, alienation, and the post-colonial condition. His most famous novel, The House of Hunger (1978), is a searing and hallucinatory portrait of a young man struggling to come to terms with his place in a rapidly changing world.
Chenjerai Hove (born 1956):
A Zimbabwean novelist, poet, and short story writer, Hove is known for his lyrical and often haunting work, which explores themes of the post-colonial condition, exile, and the search for identity. His most famous novel, Bones (1998), is a powerful and moving story about a young woman who must confront the legacy of colonialism and violence in Zimbabwe. Hove is also the author of Shadows (1991), a collection of short stories, and Ancestors (2000), a novel about the Zimbabwean liberation struggle.
Shimmer Chinodya (born 1957):
A Zimbabwean poet, novelist, and short story writer, Chinodya is known for her witty and satirical work, which explores themes of social and political commentary. Her most famous poem, Harare (1987), is a scathing critique of the Zimbabwean capital city. Chinodya is also the author of Fate of the Children (1992), a collection of short stories, and Strife (2008), a novel about the Zimbabwean liberation struggle.
Tsitsi Dangarembga (born 1959):
A Zimbabwean novelist, filmmaker, and playwright, Dangarembga is known for her powerful and insightful work, which explores themes of gender, race, and post-colonial identity. Her most famous novel, Nervous Conditions (1988), is a coming-of-age story about a young Zimbabwean girl who must confront the challenges of colonialism and patriarchy. Dangarembga is also the author of The Book of Not (2006), a sequel to Nervous Conditions, and The Hand of Many (2015), a collection of short stories.
Yvonne Vera (1964-2005):
A Zimbabwean novelist, poet, and short story writer, Vera is known for her poetic and often experimental work, which explores themes of trauma, memory, and the resilience of the human spirit. Her most famous novel, The Stone Virgins (2000), is a haunting and beautiful story about a group of women who must come to terms with their experiences of the Gukurahundi massacres. Vera is also the author of Without a Name (1994), a novel about a young woman who is searching for her identity, and Nehanda (2003), a novel about a legendary Zimbabwean spirit medium.
Valerie Tagwira (born 1965):
A Zimbabwean novelist, poet, and playwright, Tagwira is known for her vibrant and often humorous work, which explores themes of love, loss, and the challenges of living in a rapidly changing society. Her most famous novel, The Uncertainty of Hope (2006), is a complex and moving story about a family who must come to terms with the aftermath of the Zimbabwean liberation struggle. Tagwira is also the author of The Memory Stone (1999), a collection of short stories, and The Spirit of the Axe (2003), a novel about the life of a Zimbabwean traditional healer.
Bryony Rheam (born 1969):
A Zimbabwean novelist, short story writer, and playwright, Rheam is known for her evocative and often magical realist work, which explores themes of history, memory, and the supernatural. Her debut novel, The Way of the Land (2007), was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Rheam is also the author of Swimming in the Crocodile River (2012), a collection of short stories, and The Elephant’s Tale (2014), a novel about a Zimbabwean elephant who travels the country.
Sue Nyathi (born 1972):
A Zimbabwean-American novelist and short story writer, Nyathi is known for her insightful and often humorous work, which explores themes of identity, diaspora, and the challenges of transnational living. Her debut novel, Bird (2019), was a finalist for the Caine Prize for African Writing and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Nyathi is also the author of Tiny Suns (2015), a collection of short stories, and The Other Side of the Sky (2022), a novel about a Zimbabwean woman who emigrates to the United States.
Lawrence Vambe (born 1972):
A Zimbabwean novelist, short story writer, and essayist, Vambe is known for his witty and often satirical work, which explores themes of social and political commentary. His most famous novel, An Illogical Revolution (2002), was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Vambe is also the author of The Madman of Montclair (2004), a collection of short stories, and The River and the Source (2017), a novel about a Zimbabwean man who is forced to confront his past during the country’s civil war.
Irene Sabatini (born 1972):
A Zimbabwean novelist, short story writer, and poet, Sabatini is known for her witty and often satirical work, which explores themes of social and political commentary. Her most famous novel, The Hand that Holds a Thousand Needles (2009), is a scathing critique of the Zimbabwean government. Sabatini is also the author of Harare (2010), a collection of short stories, and The Undertakers (2016), a novel about the Zimbabwean liberation struggle.
Novuyo Tshuma (born 1975):
A Zimbabwean-British novelist, short story writer, and essayist, Tshuma is known for her lyrical and often experimental work, which explores themes of identity, diaspora, and the search for belonging. Her debut novel, House of Glass (2010), received the Caine Prize for African Writing. Tshuma is also the author of Ndabezinhle (2014), a collection of short stories, and Shadows of a Sunflower (2018), a novel about a Zimbabwean woman who flees to the United Kingdom.
Barbara Makhalisa (born 1975):
A Zimbabwean novelist, short story writer, and playwright, Makhalisa is known for her insightful and often humorous work, which explores themes of identity, diaspora, and the challenges of transnational living. Her most famous novel, Where We Dance (2018), was a finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Makhalisa is also the author of The Butterfly Effect (2012), a collection of short stories, and We Are the Ones You Fear (2021), a novel about a Zimbabwean family who are separated by war and migration.
Nozipo Maraire (born 1977):
A Zimbabwean novelist, poet, and playwright, Maraire is known for her lyrical and often experimental work, which explores themes of history, memory, and the supernatural. Her debut novel, Spirit Animal (2013), was a finalist for the Caine Prize for African Writing. Maraire is also the author of The Memory Tree (2016), a collection of poems, and A House in the Sky (2019), a novel about a Zimbabwean girl who is haunted by the ghosts of her ancestors.
Ignatius Mabasa (born 1981):
A Zimbabwean novelist and short story writer, Mabasa is known for his satirical and often humorous work, which explores themes of social and political commentary. His debut novel, Imbwa YeMunhu (2011), was a finalist for the NAMA Award for Outstanding Fiction Book. Mabasa is also the author of *Mapenzi: Love Stories’ (2013), a collection of short stories, and We Need New Names (2017), a novel about a group of Zimbabwean friends who emigrate to the United Kingdom.
NoViolet Bulawayo (born 1981):
A Zimbabwean-American novelist, Bulawayo is known for her vibrant and picaresque novel We Need New Names (2013), which captures the experiences of a young Zimbabwean girl who must navigate the challenges of growing up in a rapidly changing society. The novel was awarded the Guardian First Book Award and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu (born 1982):
An acclaimed Zimbabwean novelist, filmmaker, and academic, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu has garnered critical acclaim for her thought-provoking and genre-bending works that delve into the complexities of Zimbabwean history, identity, and the human condition. Her debut novel, The Theory of Flight (2018), garnered the Barry Ronge Fiction Prize, showcasing her ability to weave together poignant narratives that traverse time and space. Ndlovu’s subsequent novel, The History of Man (2020), further solidified her position as a literary force, exploring the intricate relationship between memory, mythology, and the shaping of personal and national narratives. With her captivating blend of historical fiction, magical realism, and social commentary, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu stands as a leading voice in contemporary Zimbabwean literature.
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And that’s our list of the 20 best Zimbabwean authors. What’s your take on these – any surprises, or any Zimbabwean writers not on this list that you feel should make the list?