Aminata Sow Fall is a Senegalese-born author. While her native language is Wolof, her books are written in French. She is considered "the first published woman novelist from francophone Black Africa". She was appointed the first woman president of Senegal's Writer's Association in 1985.
I once knew an Aminata, who went by Ami. When I mentioned that I'd never heard the name before I met her, she said that as far as she knew it was a Dutch name that her parents had heard (apparently while in the Netherlands). Today I see that this name has been added to the database... but it isn't Dutch! It's from West Africa! I should note that the Aminata I knew was white, and that I am extremely curious about how her parents actually encountered the name.That said, I've always thought Aminata was such a cool name. The similar Amata is among my favorites (I also once knew a Mata, which I assume is derived from Amata).