Here are some of the most prolific Black audiobook narrators you should be listening to, from award-winners to up-and-comers.
Zenzi Williams
Zenzi Williams is an actress known for Black Panther (2018), Daredevil (2015) and The Defenders (2017). Audiofile describes her narration for The Love Con as “deep and buoyant, and her delivery is well paced and consistent”.
skin & bones
By Renée Watson
What the Fireflies Knew
By Kai Harris
Looking for Love in All the Haunted Places
By Claire Kann
Natalie Simpson
Natalie Simpson is an actress of mixed Nigerian and English heritage. Natalie has appeared on screen and stage, as well as narrating audiobooks.
Where Sleeping Girls Lie
By Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Wahala
By Nikki May
Where the Truth Lies
By Anna Bailey
Landon Woodson
Landon Woodson is an actor and storyteller based in New York. He won an AudioFile Earphones Award for his narration of The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin, whose “agile and engaging narration makes listeners wary of the ominous threats and feel all the anticipation for the battle to come.”
Pritty
By Keith F. Miller, Jr.
The Awakening of Malcolm X
By Ilyasah Shabazz & Tiffany D. Jackson
My Monticello
By Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
Joniece Abbott-Pratt
Joniece Abbott-Pratt is an artist, actress, and prolific audiobook narrator. She has won several Earphones Awards from AudioFile for her narration of Revival Season by Monica West, Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko, and many more.
Ours
By Phillip B. Williams
Legendborn
By Tracy Deonn
Reformatory
By Tananarive Due
Nneka Okoye
Nneka Okoye is a British actress who also narrates audiobooks. She is fluent in both English and Igbo!
Mortal Follies
By Alexis Hall
Within These Wicked Walls
By Lauren Blackwood
The Attic Child
By Lola Jaye
Heather Alicia Simms
Heather Alicia Simms is an actress, appearing on Broadway and television. When not acting, she does a stellar job at narrating, winning an Audie Award in 2006 for her narration of Upstate by Kalisha Buckhanon and an AudioFile Best of 2019 for Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds.
The Other Black Girl
By Zakiya Dalila Harris
Silver Sparrow
By Tayari Jones
Concrete Rose
By Angie Thomas
Cary Hite
Cary Hite is a New York-based actor and narrator, accomplished in 12 accents with a wide vocal range. He has been a nominee for the Audie Awards, as well as a winner of the AudioFile’s Earphones Award.
The Baseball 100
By Joe Posnanski
I’m a Custodian
By Lauren Kukla
Gaslight
By Femi Kayode
Invisible Son
By Kim Johnson
If You Come Softly
By Jacqueline Woodson
Before the Ever After
By Jacqueline Woodson
Angel Pean
Based in Atlanta, Angel Pean is trained in film and television performance, and her skills transfer over to audio.
The Black Queen
By Jumata Emill
Apostles of Mercy
By Lindsay Ellis
The Dangerous Ones
By Lauren Blackwood
Leon Nixon
Leon Nixon is a professional actor, playwright, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He has narrated over 100 audiobooks, and received the AudioFile Earphones Award for his narration of Frederick Douglass’ autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom.
Master Slave Husband Wife
By Ilyon Woo
Blizzard
By Marie Vingtras
The Neil Gaiman Reader
By Neil Gaiman
Diana Blue
Diana Blue is a classically trained actor, choreographer, and voice performer who is based in Connecticut.
We Do This ‘Til We Free Us
By Mariame Kaba
A Killer Sundae
By Abby Collette
Slaves for Peanuts
By Jori Lewis
Mirron Willis
Mirron Willis works across theater, film, and television, and has won numerous AudioFile Earphones awards, as well as an Audie Award.
The Happiness Formula
By Author Alphonsus Obayuwana, MD, PhD, CPC
The Sins on Their Bones
By Laura R. Samotin
The Color of Family
By Jerry McGill
Bill Andrew Quinn
Narrating audiobooks since 1993, award-winning Bill Andrew Quinn is a nationally recognized voice actor and audiobook veteran. He’s narrated over 250 books!
The Trees
By Percival Everett
The Dawning of the Apocalypse
By Gerald Horne
The Last Thing You Surrender
By Leonard Pitts, Jr.
Michael Boatman
Michael Boatman is recognized for his television roles in Spin City and China Beach, and is an accomplished, award-winning audiobook narrator.
The Buddhist on Death Row
By David Sheff
The Good Lord Bird
By James McBride
The Eternal Audience of One
By Rémy Ngamije
William DeMeritt
William DeMeritt is an actor and dialect coach, lending his voice to commercials, video games, and, of course, audiobooks. Check out all his Earphone Award winners here.
Jackal
By Erin E. Adams
The Sweetness of Water
By Nathan Harris
The Sunlit Man
By Brandon Sanderson
Damian Lynch
Damian Lynch is a masterful narrator and actor, winning Earphone Awards for a slew of audiobooks.
Empire of the Vampire
By Jay Kristoff
Afterlives
By Abdulrazak Gurnah
Being a Human
By Charles Foster
Zeno Robinson
Zeno Robinson is a voice actor, with experience in both Western animation and English dubs of Japanese anime. He’s won a few AudioFile Earphones Awards, including for his narration of Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour.
Black Buck
By Mateo Askaripour
Blood Debts
By Terry J. Benton-Walker
Smoke
By Joe Ide
Je Nie Fleming
Je Nie Fleming is an Atlanta native, working since she was 5 years old in commercials, print ads, films, television, and theater productions. Her narration involvement in How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin earned an AudioFile Earphones Award.
The Boyfriend Project
By Farrah Rochon
The Color of Abolition
By Linda Hirshman
The Light on Halsey Street
By Vanessa Miller
Devante Johnson
Actor and voice actor Devante Johnson has narrated close to 50 audiobooks—his work on Dark Skies by Danielle L. Jensen “credibly portrays Killian, a soldier, illuminating his hunger to contribute something meaningful to the political struggle” (AudioFile).
The Kidnapping Club
By Jonathan Daniel Wells
How We Fight White Supremacy
By kiba Solomon & Kenrya Rankin
Gilded Serpent
By Danielle L. Jensen
In Memory of: Ella Turenne
Sadly, artist, activist, and educator Ella Turenne passed away at age 47 on December 25th, 2021, but her legacy lives on her through her stunning audiobook performances.
A Good Neighborhood
By Therese Anne Fowler
What Storm, What Thunder
By Myriam J.A. Chancy
The Nightworkers
By Brian Selfon
Rebecca Lee
Rebecca Lee’s voice is smooth and deep for an arresting performance.
The Dating Playbook
By Farrah Rochon
Enchantment
By Katherine May
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding
By Chencia C. Higgins
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! In 2019, she was inducted as a Golden Voice—AudioFile’s lifetime achievement honor for audiobook narrators.
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty
By Akwaeke Emezi
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires
By Grady Hendrix
Ophie’s Ghosts
By Justina Ireland
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 Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Great Divide
By Cristina Henriquez
Caste (Oprah’s Book Club)
By Isabel Wilkerson
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.
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
By Honoree Fanonne Jeffers
Behold the Dreamers (Oprah’s Book Club)
By Imbolo Mbue
Green
By Sam Graham-Felsen
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 Audie Awards, AudioFile Earphones awards, and numerous other “Best of” accolades.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf
By Marlon James
The Wager
By David Grann
Harlem Shuffle
By Colson Whitehead
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.
I Have Some Questions for You
By Rebecca Makkai
Built from the Fire
By Victor Luckerson
A Little Devil in America
By Hanif Abdurraqib
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
James
By Percival Everett
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
By James McBride
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 Get a Life, Chloe Brown and Remote Control.
Translation State
By Ann Leckie
Matrix
By Lauren Groff
Remote Control
By Nnedi Okorafor
Janina Edwards
Janina Edwards recorded her first audiobook in 1987, and hasn’t stopped since—she’s received multiple AudioFile Earphones awards for her skills.
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
By Deesha Philyaw
Master Slave Husband Wife
By Ilyon Woo
Swift River
By Essie Chambers
Shayna Small
Shayna Small is an actress, singer, and educator—and of course, an award-winning narrator. She’s earned multiple 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
Chain Gang All Stars
By Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
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
Memphis
By Tara M. Stringfellow
Traveling Black
By Mia Bay
Ariel Blake
Ariel Blake‘s stellar performance of Luster won her an AudioFile Earphones award.
The House of Eve
Luster
By Raven Leilani
Accountable
By Dashka Slater
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.
Come and Get It
By Kiley Reid
Black Sun
By Rebecca Roanhorse
Such a Fun Age
By Kiley Reid
Nile Bullock
Nile Bullock is a narrator, as well as an actor, musician, dancer, and TikTok star. Definitely one to watch!
Five-Carat Soul
By James McBride
Let Me Hear a Rhyme
By Tiffany D. Jackson
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.