• Wilton G. S. Sankawulo

Born on July 26, 1937, in Haindii (Lower Bong County), Liberia, and died on February 21, 2009, in Monrovia. Educated at Cuttington College, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (California), and a writers’ workshop at the University of Iowa. An accomplished author of short stories, essays, biographies, and novels—including The Marriage of Wisdom and Other Tales (1974), The Rain and the Night (1979), Sundown at Dawn: A Liberian Odyssey, and the posthumously published Birds Are Singing (2010)A long-serving civil servant who rose to head the Council of State (the transitional collective presidency) from September 1, 1995, to September 3, 1996.

• C. William Allen

A prominent Liberian journalist, academic, and public servant. He served as Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism under the transitional government, later became Director-General of the Civil Service Agency (2006–2013), and was appointed Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, presenting credentials in October 2014. He has strong academic credentials in journalism and mass communication and has contributed significantly to Liberia’s civil service reforms. is first novel, An Obituary for Hawa (1983), set in the pre-war years, follows the life of Hawa, a free-spirited young woman. His second book, The African Interior Mission School (2006), explores Liberia’s cultural identity through politics, religion, romance, and tradition.

• Saah Millimono

A Liberian novelist known for his debut book Boy, Interrupted, which explores love and life amid civil conflict
Born in 1981, educated at St. Michael’s Catholic High School in Monrovia. His novel earned recognition within the Kwani? Manuscript Project.. Critics describe it as “a searing, heartbreaking love story set in the civil war years in Liberia.”

• Momoh Sekou Dudu

  A Liberian educator, writer, and public speaker originally from Gordorlahun, northwestern Liberia. His experiences in exile during the civil war and as a refugee form the basis of his writings.
  Author of the memoir Harrowing December: A Journey of Sorrows & Triumphs (2014) and the novel Forgotten Legacy (2018); his blog mentions a forthcoming work titled Letters from Riceland. He currently resides in suburban Minneapolis and serves in academia.

• Lekpele M. Nyamalon

Lekpele Nyamalon is a Liberian poet, writer, storyteller, and inspirational speaker, and the founder of the nonprofit Africa’s Life, which supports youth development through the arts, motivational speaking, and trauma-informed cultural programs.
He is also known for his work in telecommunications and marketing, and has published poetry collections such as Scary Dreams: An Anthology of the Liberian Civil War (2017), as well as the debut collection Yearnings of a Traveler, which was an Amazon #1 bestseller.

• Fatima Massaquoi (Fahnbulleh)

Fatima Massaquoi-Fahnbulleh (circa 1904–1978) was a pioneering Liberian educator, writer, and cultural advocate. Born into a royal family, she studied in Germany and the U.S., and upon returning to Liberia in 1946, became a leading figure in higher education—holding posts such as Professor, Director, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at what became the University of Liberia, and founding the Institute of African Studies and the Society of Liberian Authors.
Her extensive unpublished autobiography, written in the U.S. during her studies, was finally published in 2013 as The Autobiography of an African Princess.

• K. Moses Nagbe

Dr. K. Moses Nagbe is a prolific Liberian educator, literary scholar, author, and civil servant. Holding a BA, MA, LLB, and PhD, he has taught at both secondary and tertiary levels in Liberia and the U.S., including posts at the University of Liberia and Prince George’s Community College.
He has authored numerous works—novels, biographies, essays, and children's stories—including The Road to Romeo, The Kru: A Short Biography, A Scream in the Storm, and others. He also served in government roles as Deputy Minister for Administration and Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs.

• Kpana Nnadia GayGay

Kpana Nnadia GayGay is an emerging Liberian novelist and writer whose works have appeared in national newspapers and KWEE, the Liberian literary magazine, where she hosts a segment called Kolokwa.
Her debut book, Daunting Years: The Liberian Civil War in the Eyes of a Child (2017), is a powerful memoir from a child’s perspective during the civil war. In a past interview, she shared that her writing addresses pressing social issues such as rape, abuse, and gender-based violence—aiming to reflect everyday realities while forging her own voice.

• Bai T. Moore (Bai Tamia Johnson Moore; 1916–1988)

Bai T. Moore was a foundational Liberian poet, folklorist, novelist, essayist, and cultural policymaker. Born in Dimeh village in 1916, he studied agriculture at Virginia Union University before returning to Liberia to join the civil service.
He co-edited Echoes from the Valley (1947), published the poetry collection Ebony Dust (1962), and is best known for his novella Murder in the Cassava Patch (1968)—a Liberian literary classic still taught in schools.
Moore served as Under-Secretary of State for Cultural Affairs and later as Minister of Cultural Affairs and Tourism under Samuel Doe, founded Liberia’s National Cultural Center, and contributed to the standardization of the Vai script.

• Wayétu Moore

Wayétu Moore is a celebrated Liberian-American author, memoirist, and publisher. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, She Would Be King (2018), reimagines Liberian history through magical realism and was praised by The New Yorker, Time, Publishers Weekly, and others.
Her memoir, The Dragons, The Giant, The Women (2020), recounts her childhood during the civil war and was named a New York Times Notable Book and one of Time’s 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2020.. She founded the children’s publishing nonprofit One Moore Book, which creates and distributes books for underrepresented children.

• Hawa Jande Golakai

Hawa Jande Golakai (born June 1, 1979, in Frankfurt, Germany) is a Liberian clinical immunologist turned fiction writer. After spending her childhood moving through Togo, Ghana, and Zimbabwe due to the Liberian civil war, she pursued studies in cell and molecular biology—earning a BSc at the University of Cape Town (2005) and an MSc at Stellenbosch University (2008).

She gained literary prominence with her debut crime novel, The Lazarus Effect (2011), which was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Prize, the University of Johannesburg Debut Prize, and longlisted for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. In 2014, she was named among the Africa39, a selection of 39 of Sub-Saharan Africa's most promising writers under 40, and included in the anthology Africa39: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara.

Her essay “Fugee”, a deeply personal account of Liberia’s Ebola crisis, appeared in Safe House: Explorations in Creative Nonfiction and won the Brittle Paper Creative Nonfiction Award in 2017. Golakai continues to live and work in Monrovia as both a scientist and a celebrated author.

• Musue Noha Haddad

Musue Noha Haddad (December 17, 1968 – November 25, 2013) was a courageous Liberian journalist and photojournalist. She began her career in exile in Ghana during the First Liberian Civil War, producing impactful photojournalism projects such as A Day in the Lives of Two Teenage Mothers, Ghanaian Women and Children in Health and Development, and Ghanaian Funerals—the latter concluding with both a 47-page book and an 11-day exhibition in Germany.

Returning to Liberia in 1997, she joined The News as a staff writer. Her fearless critiques of the government led to accusations of spying, death threats, and physical attacks, forcing her into exile once more. While abroad, she continued to advocate for press freedom and the release of imprisoned journalists

Haddad received numerous accolades for her journalistic and human rights work, including the United Nations Association (UNA-NCA) Human Rights Award and the Human Rights Watch Hellman-Hammett Award; she was also nominated for the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage in Journalism Award. She passed away suddenly in Monrovia in November 2013.

• Leymah Roberta Gbowee

An internationally renowned peace activist and women's rights advocate, known chiefly for her leadership of the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, which brought Christian and Muslim women together in a nonviolent campaign that helped end the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003.. She earned a Master’s in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University and founded the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa to support empowerment initiatives for women and youth. In 2011, she was co-awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tawakkul Karman “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”

• Helene Cooper (born April 22, 1966)

A Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author, currently serving as the Pentagon correspondent for The New York Times. She previously covered the White House and served as diplomatic correspondent, joining the Times in 2004 after a career at The Wall Street Journal. Cooper was part of the reporting team that won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting for coverage of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. She is the author of the best-selling memoir The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood and Madame President, a biography of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

• Roland T. Dempster (1910–1965)

A celebrated Liberian writer, professor, and public intellectual, born in Tosoh, Grand Cape Mount County. Dempster was a professor of Latin and World Literature at the University of Liberia (1948–1962) and was later elected to the House of Representatives (1964). His notable works include The Mystic Reformation of Gondolia (1953), A Song Out of Midnight (1960), and the poem “Africa’s Plea”. He was also named Poet Laureate for English-speaking Africa by the World Poet Laureate Organisation in 1965.

• Ophelia S. Lewis (born November 7, 1961)

A Liberian author, publisher, and humanitarian, founder of Village Tales Publishing. Her writing spans memoir (My Dear Liberia, 2004), poetry (Journeys, 2007), short stories, children’s books (“A” Is for Africa, The Good Manners Alphabet), and novels (Heart Men, The Dowry of Virgins, both 2011). She has collaborated with Liberian cultural groups and supports aspiring writers through her publishing platform.

• Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832–1912)

Often regarded as the Father of Pan-Africanism, Blyden was a visionary educator, writer, diplomat, and politician. Born in St. Thomas (Danish West Indies), he moved to Liberia in 1850. Throughout his career, he served as a high school principal, Liberia’s Secretary of State (1864–1865), ambassador to Great Britain, and president of Liberia College in Sierra Leone. Blyden authored influential works like Africa for the Africans and Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race, inspiring leaders such as Marcus Garvey and Kwame Nkrumah.

• A. Doris Banks Henries (February 11, 1913 – February 16, 1981)

An American educator and writer who played a major role in Liberia’s educational system. She served as Assistant Minister of Education under the Tolbert administration, and held key positions as educator, dean, and administrator at institutions like William V. S. Tubman Teachers College and the University of Liberia. She published textbooks, a biography of President William V. S. Tubman (1968), and edited collections of Liberian poetry and folklore. She also became a leader in the Society of Liberian Authors.

• Rodney D. Sieh

A prominent Liberian investigative journalist and publisher. He founded FrontPage Africa—Liberia’s leading independent daily newspaper, known for holding the government accountable through fearless reporting. He has faced legal threats and imprisonment due to his work exposing corruption. He also authored The Unofficial Biography of George Weah and other investigative works. 

• James V. Dwalu

A Liberian children's author from Grand Cape Mount County. A key member and former president of the Liberia Association of Writers, Dwalu has written numerous popular stories—such as Blama’s Dream, Varney and the Monkey Bridge, and Hunting at Night—that are widely used in literacy and teacher-training programs throughout Liberia.

• Elma Shaw

A Liberian author, broadcaster, publisher, and filmmaker. Born in Monrovia in December 1967, she holds degrees in Communication Media, Film, and Video from American University. Her novel Redemption Road: The Quest for Peace and Justice in Liberia addresses post-war healing. She's also editor of Monrovia Rain and Other Stories Lost and Found, contributes to literary magazines, and actively supports girls’ education and storytelling platforms like Cotton Tree Press.

• Gabriel I. H. Williams

  A veteran Liberian journalist and publisher. Williams served as Secretary-General and President of the Press Union of Liberia and was a founding member of the Association of Liberian Journalists. He authored Liberia: The Heart of Darkness, a significant account of the civil war’s impact on Liberia and West Africa.

• Kona Khasu (James Emmanuel Roberts)

Khasu, born James Emmanuel Robert in 1942, was raised in Soniwein, Monrovia. He graduated from Monrovia College and went on to earn degrees from Hobart College, Boston University, and Harvard. In the 1970s, he directed the Liberian Cultural Troupe at Kendejah and taught at the University of Liberia. Khasu produced and directed Liberia’s first television series, Kotati, and later Homage to Africa, which was developed through Blamadon Theater. From 2006 to 2012, he served as Deputy Minister of Education for Planning. He wrote five plays, the most famous being Kandakai, The Lost Scenes of the Magic Flute, and The Greedy Farmer, which received mixed reviews from Liberian audiences.

Khasu’s works largely focus on urban Monrovia, class structures, and the lives of both elites and commoners. While many of his works are now lost, The Seeds of Time (1971) and Homage to Africa (1981), both poetry collections, remain his most notable works. His well-known poem, Our Man on Broad Street, has been widely anthologized.

• D. Othniel Forte

A Liberian poet and writer known for his reflective and poignant exploration of identity, memory, and the sociopolitical realities of Liberia. His poetry often weaves personal experience with broader national themes, contributing to the cultural and literary revival in post-war Liberia. His work has appeared in various literary magazines and anthologies focusing on African and Liberian voices. Notably, Forte has been published in “The Liberian Literary Journal” and contributed poems such as “Song of the Exile” and “Monrovia Shadows”, which delve into themes of displacement and resilience. He is recognized as an emerging voice among contemporary Liberian writers, shaping the nation’s literary landscape.

• Patricia Jabbeh Wesley

Patricia Jabbeh Wesley is a Liberian-American poet, educator, and scholar known for her compelling poetry that explores themes of identity, displacement, memory, and the Liberian civil war experience. Born in Liberia, she was forced to flee during the civil war and later settled in the United States. Wesley has authored several poetry collections, including "Before the Palm Could Bloom" (2002), "The River Is Rising" (2010), and "When the Wanderers Come Home" (2018). Her work is celebrated for its lyrical depth and powerful engagement with issues of exile, trauma, and healing. She is also a professor of English at Penn State University, where she teaches creative writing and African literature. Wesley has received numerous fellowships and awards for her poetry and scholarship.

• Trapeta B. Mayson

Born in Monrovia, emigrated to the US with her family at the age of eight. Her experiences as an immigrant in the United States and the everyday lives of common people are some of the themes her writing highlights. By the Roadside: For Liberian Survivors of War (2004), Mocha Melodies (2008), and She Was Once Herself (2018) are her three collections of poetry. In 2019, Mayson was selected to serve as Philadelphia’s fifth poet laureate. She has held numerous writing fellowships, such as the Aspen Words Emerging Writers fellowship.

• Cherbo Geeplay

Cherbo Geeplay is a Liberian-born poet and writer from the Grebo ethnic group in southeastern Liberia. His work deeply explores themes of African identity, the Liberian civil war, the immigrant experience, and environmental and historical scars. Geeplay began publishing poetry in 2009 and has contributed to literary journals such as the Liberian Sea Breeze Journal, Blue Lake Review, and Rigorous Literary Magazine.

His debut poetry collection, Cavalla Fire (2024), offers a vivid and poignant exploration of Liberia and Africa’s landscapes, confronting colonial legacies, environmental devastation, and personal loss. The collection has been praised for its emotional depth and vivid imagery, reflecting on resilience amid history's wounds.

Geeplay was also a finalist for the Adelaide Literary Award for Poetry in 2018. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, he continues to write and engage with global African literary conversations.

• Edwin James Barclay 

Besides his political career, Edwin James Barclay was also a poet and writer who contributed to Liberia's cultural and literary heritage. Barclay’s poetry often reflected his nationalist sentiments and a vision of Liberia’s future. His literary works addressed themes of patriotism, identity, and social progress.

Though less widely known for his writing compared to his political role, Barclay’s contributions to Liberian literature include poems and essays that were published in local newspapers and literary journals during the early to mid-20th century. His writings helped inspire a sense of pride and unity among Liberians, especially during times of political and social change.

• Michaela Songa 

A Liberian-born writer, editor, and actress known for her work in print and digital media. She has served as editor-in-chief for magazines like African Starz and Zorzor, and her writing explores identity and culture. Michaela also acted in several Liberian films and has experience in filmmaking as a writer and producer. Recognized for her contributions, she was nominated for Best Editor and Writer at the 2009 Eagle Awards. She currently lives in New Jersey and remains active in media and the arts.

• Abunic Sherif II

Abu Sherif II was a young Liberian writer and poet. His works appeared in Praxis Magazine, Eboquills, Ngiga Review, Arts Lounge, The Shallow Tales Review, The Ducor Review, and elsewhere. He was the author of Al-fatiha.