15 Underrated African Romance Authors You’re Missing Out On

If you grew up loving Harlequin, Mills and Boon, and Silhouette books but wanted more African representation, then you’ll love this list.

If you’re a fan of toe-curling and spicy romance, or if you prefer your romance on the milder side, one thing is certain: you’re always on the lookout for more books to spice up your TBR. From romantasy to spice, many of these phenomenal writers challenge the misconception that African writers only write about heavy topics. 

You may not have heard of some of them, so we’ve curated a list for you. 

Without further ado, here are 15 of the most underrated African romance authors you’ve been sleeping on.

1. Empi Baryel 

Empi Baryel is a Ghanaian contemporary novelist and assistant registrar at the University of Ghana. She began her career at age 13 after discovering an unfinished story her sister had started. 

Empi completed the story, which piqued her interest in writing. She has written remarkable works such as Chancing Faith, Forest Girl, and His Inherited Princess. She won the 2017 Ufere Award for Book of the Year. 

2. Nana Prah 

Nana Prah’s career as a writer grew out of a deep appreciation for romance from childhood. She’s a Ghanaian-born, American-raised author who currently resides in Ghana. 

Nana’s deep-rooted obsession with love and happily-ever-afters strongly influences her romance style. Her works have been described as “sweet with a touch of spice.” Some of her best works include The Perfect Caress, The Defiant Princess, Love and Brush Strokes, and Love and Handcuffs. 

She maintains an active relationship with her fan base on social media, and you can learn more about her and her work on her website.

3. Amina Thula 

Amina Thula is a lesser-known romance author, born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. As a child, she discovered her love for reading at age 6 after her brother gifted her a comic book. 

Thula went on to explore several other forms of literature, from Archie Comics to books like Sweet Dreams and Sweet Valley. She is currently the author of two books, The Elevator Kiss and Love Next Door. Her books highlight the South African woman’s pursuit of true love and happiness.

4. Lani Leigh

Lani or L. Leigh was a certified bookworm as a kid. Born in Northern London to a Nigerian father and Nigerian-American mother, Leigh’s interest was piqued in folklore and the supernatural. She is most famous for her novel, The Lekki Club, a contemporary erotic novel that centers on BDSM and power dynamics. 

If you are into kink and spice, then Lani is the girl for you. Some of her other romance works include Call Me Enitan, Swear With Me, etc. 

Lani doesn’t limit herself to romance/erotica; she writes thrillers too. If you would like to know more about her, you can find information on her website.

5. Feyi Aina

Feyi Aina is a Nigerian contemporary Christian romance author based in Lagos, Nigeria. She is also a practicing psychotherapist. Apart from reading and writing, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and exploring culture and civilization. 

If you’re searching for romance novels on the milder side, Feyi Aina is the author for you. Some of her works include Love Happens Eventually, Love Indenture, Ayanfe, etc.

6. Frances Mensah Williams 

Frances Mensah Williams is a Ghanaian-born contemporary romance writer. She spent her early childhood traveling back and forth between Ghana and America before finally settling in the United States. 

She draws much of her inspiration from the novels she loves to read. These novels explore themes of romantic relationships, frustrating careers, wayward children, and many other complex issues. Some of her books include Imperfect Arrangements, Strictly Friends, and many other interesting works. 

7. Tonia Obiajulum Okonji

Tonia Obiajulum Okonji is a Nigerian-based contemporary romance writer. She writes emotionally charged romance and explores the ideas of lust, love, desire, and power. Her stories are deeply entrenched in Nigerian culture and are enriched by the complexity of her characters. 

Tonia also works as a feature writer and can often be found daydreaming about moody jazz lounges and rooftop dinners. Sinful Pleasure and Velvet Pleasure are some of her most recognizable works.

8. Oluchi Enema

Oluchi Enema is a Nigerian-based critical and creative writer, public speaker, and editor. She creates heart-melting teen novels and sensual stories. Her debut novel Amour de Noel is a Christian interracial romance between two college lecturers. When she’s not crafting unique African stories, she spends much of her day dreaming and “being dramatic.” Some of her other published works include Beyond Thoughts and Allure. 

9. Jules Rae

Jules Rae is a Nigerian-based author who took it upon herself to write the romantic stories that she rarely saw in the media. In addition to writing, she juggles a full-time corporate job and the responsibilities of motherhood. 

Her characters are deeply complex and contribute to the uniqueness of her writing. Where Jules’ heroines are bold and unforgettable, her heroes are emotionally complex men who aren’t afraid to feel deeply. Her work includes books like Call Me Aarinola and A Girl Called Omoye, among others.

10. Aziza Eden Walker

Aziza Eden Walker is a South African-based romance author, former actress, and psychologist. She started writing love stories as a teen on a little blackboard and would clean the scandalous parts before anyone could see them. From this, her passion for writing romance grew. While she mostly wrote humorous and relatable romance stories, she also wrote short stories and poetry. Some of her work includes The Seeing Place and This Crazy Paradise.

11. Thandi Moagi 

Thandi Moagi is a South African-based romance author born and raised in Soweto. She is best known for stories that combine danger elements, desire, and an urban South African setting. 

Thandi began writing in 2023 and built a steady following on Facebook through her viral stories. Some of her works include String of Pearls and Butcher and the Cleaner-Bullets of Love.

12. Diana Anyango

Diana Anyango is a Kenyan contemporary Romance author whose work features strong female leads and emotionally mature alpha heroes. She grew up reading romance novels like Mills & Boon and noticed a lack of representation for African stories. This lack of representation became her driving force to write. 

Her characters sport African features like kinky hair and dark skin and are usually situated in Kenya. Some of her works include A Place Called Happiness, A Small-Town Girl, Ballad of a Play-Boy’s Heart, and various others.

13. Camaa Pearl

Camaa Pearl, also known as Margaret Adetimehin, is a Nigerian-born romance author. When she was in school, she’d get sent home for late payment of school fees and often used the opportunity to bury her head in her father’s books. She began writing at age 9 to give those around her a glimpse of her mind and thoughts. 

Most of her books are based on true stories and include elements of humor, friendship, and other themes. Her works include The Yoruba Demons Billionaire Club Trilogy, The Lagos Life series, and many others.

14. Aminat Sanni-Kamal  

Aminat Sanni-Kamal is a Nigerian-born romance and fantasy author. She has a deep appreciation for Yoruba culture and draws inspiration from its rich folklore. Through this inspiration, she draws readers into a universe where love transcends time and space. 

Her work is infused with soulful romance, set in vivid settings, and explores the timeless allure of African tradition. Some of her works include Amber Fire, Rebound, A Date for Valentine, and many others.

15. Cynthia ‘Tasha’ Osajibenedict

Cynthia ‘Tasha’ Osajibenedict is a Nigerian-born romance author, media expert, and Social advocate. She started out selling fruit on the street before rising in the ranks and becoming a marketing strategist. 

Vanguard described her writing tone as “Bold and Unflinching,” a combination of complex storytelling and an unapologetic depiction of intimacy. She addresses the things people are afraid to talk about, such as the shame surrounding intimacy. 

Some of her works include The Harmattan Series and If These Eyes Could Talk.