Literature has a pivotal place in global development. Through words, stories, and wisdom, writers shape reflections and act as guardians of thought. In Africa, Chadian literature is not as well-known as it should be outside the Central Africa region. From classical authors such as Baba Moustapha, Joseph Brahim Seid, and Maoundoé Naindouba to contemporary voices like Nimrod, the world of Chadian literature is a rich heritage that deserves to be promoted and protected.
This semi-desert sub-Saharan country is a land of stories that have shaped both its ancient and contemporary history. Oral traditions have passed tales from one generation to another, while written works have increasingly emerged.
Over the past decades, there has been a modest rise in the number of young authors publishing books. Yet in today’s fast-paced digital world, it remains a challenge to keep readers’ attention, as many are drawn to short-form content.
This article highlights six authors who have shaped Chadian literature and brought it to the world. Their courage and skills are paving the way for a younger generation eager to write and contribute to the country’s literary development.
Koulsy Lamko
Born in Dadouar, Koulsy Lamko is a writer, poet, and playwright known internationally for his lyrical approach to writing. He spent his early years in Chad before relocating to Burkina Faso in 1983 to pursue a degree in literature. In his host country, he became deeply involved in theatre and poetry. While there, he collaborated on a mix of poems and music in honor of Thomas Sankara.
Between 1998 and 2002, while completing his PhD at the University of Butare, he founded the Centre Universitaire des Arts. He now resides in Mexico, where he teaches and established Casa R. Hankili África, a residency center for African writers.
He has written novels and plays and produced countless works of literary art. His most notable works include La Phalène des collines (The Moth of the Hills, 2000), Les Racines du Yucca (The Roots of the Yucca, 2011), and Le Mot dans la rosée (The Word in the Dew, 1997). Koulsy carries Chadian writing and storytelling across continents, languages, and cultures.
Priscille Mekoulnodji
Born in Bebidja, southern Chad, Priscille Mekoulnodji is a linguist, writer, poet, and educator. She completed her secondary studies in Chad before continuing her education in the USSR, Burkina Faso, and later the United States. She began writing in the late 1980s, releasing two plays: Dana et Henriette (Dana and Henriette) and Mordochai le Juif (Mordochai the Jew, 1980).
She pursued a long career in teaching languages and humanitarian work while continuing to write. Believing in the importance of early childhood literacy, she opened the primary school Comer in 1998 in N’Djamena, which continues to function today. Her educational model emphasizes ensuring that children master reading skills.
In recent decades, she has published Exils Croisés (Crossed Exiles), Les Empreintes de nos Voix (The Imprints of Our Voices, 2023), and Les Larmes des termites ailées (The Tears of Winged Termites, 2025). Drawing on Chad’s oral tradition of proverbs, she has also worked on a collection of traditional sayings for children, scheduled to be released in English and French in 2025.
Sosthène Mbernodji
For the past 11 years, under the leadership of Sosthène Mbernodji, N’Djamena has hosted the Souffle de l’Harmattan (Breath of the Harmattan) Festival, which promotes local and international literature. Created in 2014, the festival brings together writers, publishers, artists, and literary enthusiasts to celebrate the importance of writing.
Born in Bébalem, Sosthène Mbernodji is a writer, journalist, and professor who has dedicated decades to promoting Chadian literature both nationally and abroad. He has participated in numerous literary events in Africa and Europe, representing Chad.
In 2021, he won the award for Best Promoter of African Books at the International Meeting of Books and Associated Arts (MILA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. In 2009, he created the Café Littéraire (Literary Café) a show on the national radio station FM Liberté, inviting authors and guests to discuss literary topics.
He advocates strongly for literacy and believes reading and writing must take a larger place in school curricula. His most notable works include Le Fantôme de Nokou (The Ghost of Nokou, 2022), a collection of short stories, and Quand souffle naît (When Breath is Born, 2023), chronicling the festival’s creation.
Noël Flavien Kobdigue (Kaar Kaa Soon)
An avid lover of words since his youth, Noël Flavien Kobdigue, also known as Kaar Kaa Soon, is a writer, musician, poet, and lyricist. He was a member of the musical group Tibesti, which was nationally renowned. He holds degrees in public law, economics, and international development.
Over the years, he has released albums and written numerous novels. His most notable works include Dried Tears (2001), Au Sahel les cochons n’ont pas chaud (In the Sahel, Pigs Don’t Get Hot, 2006), Avec nos mains de chèvre (With Our Goat Hands, 2010), Le Prix des Agneaux (The Price of Lambs, 2012), E414 (2013), and Grand Remplaçant (Great Replacement, 2025).
In 2011, he was awarded the prize for Best Chadian Novel by Chad’s Ministry of Culture. Now based in France, he organizes the annual event Rentrée Littéraire Tchadienne (Chadian Literary Season), which brings together Chadian writers, poets, musicians, and playwrights to promote the country’s literary arts internationally.
Noël Flavien’s work is rooted in the realities of Chadian society and politics. As both an author and singer-songwriter, his use of lyrics transcends into his written and spoken works.
Marie Christine Koundja
A pioneer among Chadian women writers, Marie Christine Koundja was born in Iriba in 1957. She is both an author and a diplomat who has served in various Chadian embassies across the globe. After completing her studies in Chad and Cameroon, she began her career as a public servant at the Chadian Embassy in Cameroon.
Her most notable works include Al-Istifakh, ou, L’idylle de mes amis (Al-Istifakh, or, The Idyll of My Friends, 2001) and Kam-Ndjaha, la dévoreuse (Kam-Ndjaha, the Devourer, 2009).
Balancing her career as a diplomat and a writer, she has helped promote Chadian literature worldwide. Through her work, she addresses social issues that hinder intercultural cohesion in Chad and advocates for a more integrated society. Her novels are studied in academic contexts on multiculturalism in sub-Saharan Africa and the social constructs needed for cohesion. Her voice and writing remain her tools for advocating a better Chadian society.
Nétonon Noël Ndjékéry
Nétonon Noël Ndjékéry is a master of words, renowned for thrillers rooted in Chadian realities. A passionate reader and lover of language, he often cites the influence of griots on his writing. He began composing poetry and short stories in his teenage years.
After studying mathematics and computer science in Chad, he worked for various companies before settling in Switzerland, where he continues to live and work.
His most notable works include Sang de kola (Kola Blood, 1999), La Descente aux enfers (The Descent into Hell, 1993), and L’angle mort du rêve (The Blind Spot of the Dream, 2024). In 2022, his novel Il n’y a pas d’arc-en-ciel au paradis (There Is No Rainbow in Paradise, 2022) won both the Hors Concours Prize in France and the Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire.
Ndjékéry plunges his readers into Chad’s historical, anthropological, and cultural landscapes, offering insight into how the country has been shaped. The international recognition of his works enhances Chad’s literary image on the global stage.
Chad, the heart of Africa has many stories to tell. These authors ,among many others, have built a literary cornerstone for many generations to stand on to promote our words across the world. The increasing number of Chadian remains a testament of the desire to continue the vision of promoting our country through the art of writing.
Deborah Melom Ndjerareou
We Write Afrika 
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