Lidudumalingani Mqombothi was born in the village of Zikhovane in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

He was the 2016 winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing with his short story "Memories We Lost".

[2] [3][4] As part of winning the prize, he visited Georgetown University in Washington, DC, for a series of events, including seminars and readings.

[5] Also in 2016, Lidudumalingani was selected to receive a Miles Morland Scholarship, enabling him to work on his first novel, Let Your Children Name Themselves.

[6] Lidudumalingani was chosen as curator for the 2022 African Book Festival Berlin (26–18 August), with the theme of his programme being titled "Yesterday.