W4 Asian and African

W4 A_Tug_of_War_in_Old_Zulu_Land, Asian and African LiteratureW4 Ancient_Libyans, Asian and African Literature

“Asian and African” literature is the body of literary works produced by writers living in Africa or in Asia, including the regions of China, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Japan, India and the areas collectively known as the Middle East.

These works include every known literary form and span almost every historical and literary time period from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, reflecting the values, social norms, sentiments, religious and political ideals of their respective nations.

Asian and African Literature

The following authors in our database represent the Asian and African Literature category of World Literature:

(Where appropriate, some authors or works of this period may be found in the Mythology, Fables and Folktales category of this collection)

Achebe, ChinuaBook Icon (1930-2013) Khayyam, OmarBook Icon (1048-1131)
Adichie, Chimamanda NgoziBook Icon (1977-) Mahfouz, NaguibBook Icon (1911-2006)
Adiga, AravindBook Icon (1974-) Markandaya, KamalaBook Icon (1924-2004)
Aidoo, Ama AtaBook Icon (1942-2023) Mishima, YukioBook Icon (1925-1970)
Akutagawa, RyunosukeBook Icon (1892-1927) Nafisi, AzarBook Icon (1947-)
Anand, Mulk RajBook Icon (1905-2004) Ninh, BaoBook Icon (1952-)
Anonymous: Sundiata: An Epic of Old MaliBook Icon (1300s) Okigbo, ChristopherBook Icon (1932-1967)
Anonymous: The Arabian NightsBook Icon Roy, ArundhatiBook Icon (1961-)
Anonymous: The KoranBook Icon (610 AD) Saint AugustineBook Icon (354 AD-430 AD)
Ch’eng-en, WuBook Icon (1505-1580) Salih, TayebBook Icon (1929-2009)
Chin, PaBook Icon (1904-2005) Satrapi, MarjaneBook Icon (1969-)
Coetzee, J.M.Book Icon (1940-) Thiong’o, Ngũgĩ waBook Icon (1938-)
Dangarembga, TsitsiBook Icon (1959-) ValmikiBook Icon (c. 400 BC)
El Saadawi, NawalBook Icon (1931-2021) VatsyayanaBook Icon (c. 100s BC)
Emecheta, BuchiBook Icon (1944-2017) Yehoshua, Abraham B.Book Icon (1936-2022)
Fugard, AtholBook Icon (1932-) Yoshimoto, BananaBook Icon (1964-)
Ilibagiza, ImmaculéeBook Icon (1970-)

Click on any of the above names to open the corresponding biographical essay.

Click on the red book icon Book Iconto the left of any name in the list to access that author’s bibliography and our collection of direct links available for the associated titles as hosted by a wide variety of professional and academic Web sites.


Are there other authors you think should be included in this category?

Let us know and we’ll try to add them whenever possible.


Register now for a Free Membership to CurricuLit.com and you will receive notices of special features and updates as they become available.