Reading the Queer World: Africa
Literary fiction, historical fiction, memoirs, and/or poetry by queer authors from nations in Africa, set in the nation. Not every nation is represented yet—I'm still researching them! Keeping it at maximum 3 books per nation.
Cameroon: These Letters End in Tears Egypt: Shubeik Lubeik; In the Spider's Room Equatorial Guinea: La Bastarda Ethiopia: The History of a Difficult Child Ghana: No One Dies Yet; Before We Hit the Ground* Kenya: Stories of our Lives; For What are Butterflies Without Their Wings Morocco: Infidels Nigeria: Under the Udala Trees; Butter Honey Pig Bread; An Ordinary Wonder Somalia: Fairytales for Lost Children South Africa: They Called Me Queer; A Soft Landing; The Quiet Violence of Dreams Uganda: Everything is Fine Here Zambia: The Lions' Den Zimbabwe: The Hairdresser of Harare
(*) diaspora author
created by wienn
last updated August, 2026
Comments
a much needed list, thank you! (edited typo)
Oh wow, what a lovely list!!
oh this is a fantastic list! saving for future yoinks 🤩
This is an awesome list!
Some additional books I've found that exceed my 3-books-per-nation guideline (if folks think these should replace any on the list, let me know); are about queer, African characters but not set in Africa; cover/span multiple African nations; or are generally African-inspired (fantasy) but don't name a nation:
Eritrea: The Seers Nigeria: Walking With Shadows; When We Speak of Nothing; Lives of Great Men; Fimí sílẹ̀ Forever; Freshwater; The Death of Vivek Oji; Speak No Evil; She Called Me Woman; Blessings South Africa: this is not about sadness; Intruders; Collective Amnesia West Africa: The Hundred Wells of Salaga; Wedged Between Man and God
Many nations: Safe House: Explorations in Creative Non-Fiction; Bald Dandelions With Their Wishes Blown Clean Off No Nation Specified: The Queer Book of Revelation
