Thomas Mofolo

Thomas Mofolo
Sketch of Thomas Mofolo by Frédéric Christol
Sketch of Thomas Mofolo by Frédéric Christol
Born22 December 1876
Khojane, Basutoland
Died8 September 1948
Teyateyaneng, Basutoland
OccupationNovelist
Period1907 - 1925
Notable works
  • Moeti oa Bochabela (1907)
  • Pitseng (1910)
  • Chaka (1925)

Thomas Mokopu Mofolo (22 December 1876 – 8 September 1948) is often regarded as the first African novelist. His body of work, which consists of three books composed between 1905 and 1910, were first written in Sesotho, and then widely translated.

He is best known for his third book, Chaka, a fictional retelling of the story of the rise and fall of the Zulu emperor-king Shaka.