Here are some of the most prolific Black audiobook narrators you should be listening to, from award-winners to up-and-comers.
Bahni Turpin
Bahni Turpin has a long history of winning awards for her narration; we here at Libro.fm often wonder how she has the time to narrate so many audiobooks! Her narration of Children of Blood and Bone won an Audie Award for 2019 Audiobook of the Year, and she was inducted as a Golden Voice in 2019—AudioFile’s lifetime achievement honor for audiobook narrators.
Children of Blood and Bone
By Tomi Adeyemi
So You Want to Talk about Race
By Ijeoma Oluo
Transcendent Kingdom
By Yaa Gyasi
Robin Miles
Robin Miles has a past in Broadway and television, so it’s no surprise that narration has served her well. She won the coveted Best Female Narrator Audie Award in 2021 for her narration of N. K. Jemisin’s The City We Became, and her narration of Caste by Isabel Wilkinson in 2020 won AudioFile’s Best of 2020 for Nonfiction & Culture.
The City We Became
By N. K. Jemisin
Caste
By Isabel Wilkerson
The Yellow Wife
By Sadeqa Johnson
Prentice Onayemi
Prentice Onayemi started his career narrating for educational texts, and eventually transitioned to full-length fiction, autobiographies, and more. A self-described “theater kid,” he also has a past on Broadway.
Behold the Dreamers
By Imbolo Mbue
The Rage of Dragons
By Evan Winter
Frederick Douglass
By David W. Blight
Dion Graham
Dion Graham has a string of awards to his name, especially when it comes to children’s and young adult literature—including When Stars are Scattered and Dear Martin. He also has AudioFile’s Golden Voice honor to his name, and his “range and talent as a narrator have netted him consistently superlative praise, including four Audie Awards, scores of AudioFile Earphones awards, and numerous other “Best of” accolades.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf
By Marlon James
Little Family
By Ishmael Beah
Concrete Rose
By Angie Thomas
JD Jackson
In June 2020, JD Jackson was inducted as one of AudioFile’s Golden Voice, and he won the 2021 Audie Award for his narration of His Truth is Marching On, and recently helped breathe new life into the ancient Beowulf.
His Truth Is Marching On
By Jon Meacham & John Lewis
The Nickel Boys
By Colson Whitehead
A Little Devil in America
By Hanif Abdurraqib
Things That Make White People Uncomfortable
By Michael Bennett & Dave Zirin
A Fool’s Errand
By Lonnie G. Bunch III
The Life and Times of Persimmon Wilson
By Nancy Peacock
Dominic Hoffman
Dominic Hoffman’s background in acting and degree in English literature make him a perfect candidate for audiobook narration, and his reading record is no exception. One of his narrator preparation tips: “Get rest. When you’re tired, the first thing to go is your voice.”
Deacon King Kong
By James McBride
The Starless Sea
By Erin Morgenstern
Homegoing
By Yaa Gyasi
Adjoa Andoh
You might recognize Adjoa Andoh from her role on Bridgerton as Lady Danbury, but did you know she narrates audiobooks, too? Her audiobook record includes bestsellers and favorites like Americanah, Get a Life, Chloe Brown, and Remote Control.
Americanah
By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
By Talia Hibbert
Remote Control
By Nnedi Okorafor
Janina Edwards
Janina Edwards recorded her first audiobook in 1987, and hasn’t stopped since—she’s received two AudioFile Earphones awards for her skills.
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
By Deesha Philyaw
Three Girls from Bronzeville
By Dawn Turner
The Will to Change
By bell hooks
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones
By Daven McQueen
Hair Story
By Ayana D. Byrd & Lori L. Tharps
The Proposal
By Jasmine Guillory
Shayna Small
Shayna Small is an actress, singer, and educator—and of course, an award-winning narrator. She’s earned three AudioFile Earphone awards and Audies for her narration in The Vanishing Half and Red at the Bone.
The Vanishing Half
By Brit Bennett
The Gilded Ones
By Namina Forna
America on Fire
By Elizabeth Hinton
Adenrele Ojo
Adenrele Ojo first trained as a dancer as a little girl, but then made the transition into theater, and eventually into audiobooks. AudioFile Magazine says it best: “Ojo shines brightest in dialogue creating a zest and personality.”
While Justice Sleeps
By Stacey Abrams
The Magic of Marie Laveau
By Denise Alvarado
Traveling Black
By Mia Bay
Belle
By Beverly Jenkins
Heads of the Colored People
By Nafissa Thompson-Spires
The House of Erzulie
By Kirsten Imani Kasai
Ariel Blake
Ariel Blake is new to the audiobook narration scene, but you’d never know based off her stellar performance of Luster—it won an AudioFile Earphones award.
Luster
By Raven Leilani
Nicole Lewis
When she’s not narrating audiobooks, Nicole Lewis might be on Broadway, film, or television, as well as teaching and voice coaching. She especially has a knack for accents.
Such a Fun Age
By Kiley Reid
The Beauty in Breaking
By Michele Harper
The Space Between Worlds
By Micaiah Johnson
Nile Bullock
Nile Bullock is a young, up-and-coming narrator, as well as an actor, musician, dancer, and TikTok star. Definitely one to watch!
Opposite of Always
By Justin A. Reynolds
Rebel
By Marie Lu
The Stars Beneath Our Feet
By David Barclay Moore
Imani Parks
If Imani Parks looks familiar, it could be from when she played Young Nala on Broadway in The Lion King. She also has recorded more than 20 audiobooks, receiving multiple AudioFile Earphones awards.
Amari and the Night Brothers
By B. B. Alston
Monday’s Not Coming
By Tiffany D. Jackson
My Jasper June
By Laurel Snyder
Is there another Black audiobook narrator you’ve listened to and loved?
Let us know in the comments below!
Lovely article and wonderful audiobook recommendations! Can I please add a few names to the list? January LaVoy, Chante McCormick, Ron Butler Jr., & Cary Hite
Thanks, Amanda!
I don’t know if she has narrated any books, but Abbe Opher is wonderful at reading sleep stories on Slumber.
No list is complete without Kevin R. Free! He does it all, and I love his voice in “Real Life” by Brandon Taylor as well as Martha Wells’ “Murderbot Diaries”. He’s so compelling, whether in fiction or non fiction.
Glad you’ve enjoyed him, Maris!
I’d like to add Aunjanue L. Ellis reading “Hitting a Straight Lick With a Crooked Stick,” by Zoe’s Neale Hurston. She does a beautiful job bringing Hurston’s colorful words to life. Her interpretations of the humorous pieces are laugh out loud funny.
Great recommendation, Sherrie!
Joniece Abbott-Pratt! https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=joniece+abbott-pratt
Great addition, Marni!
SECOND THIS ONE!!!!!! She’s phenomenal in Legendborn and Raybearer.
I’ll shout out Wesleigh Siobhan, Jakobi Diem, and Sean Crisden who are basically the voices of Black Romance!
Thanks for the additions, Elvira!
FYI: Jakobi Diem is JD Jackson on this list. I think they use different names for different genres.
Guy Lockard mostly narrates Jason Reynolds books but has done a couple other YA books and such. I love listening to him read!
Kevin Kennerly narrates several James Baldwin books including Just Above My Head and No Name In the Street. He is excellent!
Thanks for the addition, Toni Ann!
They’ve already been named by other commentors, but I also enjoy Kevin R. Free and Sean Crisden’s narration work. Glad to get your list, thanks!
No problem, Sophia! Thanks for reading!
I love Nicole Small in the “Butterfly” series by Ashley Antoinette.
So glad you enjoyed her narration, Jennifer! You can find more audiobooks narrated by Nicole Small here.
Wesleigh Siobahn! She needs to be on this list!
Glad you’ve enjoyed her narration, Mikki!
I feel in Love with the voice of Karen Chilton while listening to “Once Ghosted, Twice Shy” by Alyssa Cole. She is a definite for this list.