African books and literature to read online
Original African fiction, published chapter by chapter by African and diaspora writers. Novels, short stories, folklore retellings and city drama set in Accra, Kumasi, Lagos and across the diaspora, written by people from those places rather than about them.
Every chapter below is free and reads in your browser, with no app or download. Follow a story to be notified when its next chapter goes up, or browse the full catalogue to filter by genre, language and culture.
African stories to read now
African folklore and mythology retellings
Original stories rooted in Anansesem and West African folklore. These are new works by living writers, not transcriptions of traditional tales.
The African writers publishing here
Every story above is published directly by its author. Open a profile to read the rest of their work.
Reading African literature on GoldenPalm
- Where can I read African novels online for free?
- GoldenPalm Novels publishes original African and diaspora fiction that reads directly in your browser. Every published chapter is free to read, with no app, download or subscription.
- Are these traditional folktales or original fiction?
- Everything here is original fiction written by the authors who publish it. Some stories draw on Anansesem, Ghanaian folklore and West African mythology, but they are new stories rather than transcriptions of traditional tales.
- Are the stories finished, or still being written?
- Both. Each story is labelled ongoing or completed. Ongoing serials add chapters as their authors publish them, and you can follow a story to be notified when the next chapter goes up.
- Who writes the stories?
- Independent African and diaspora writers publish directly on GoldenPalm Novels. Every story page links to its author's profile and the rest of their work.
- Can I publish my own African fiction here?
- Yes. Create an account, open your dashboard and publish your story chapter by chapter. There is no cost to publish.