Here is a list of Africa’s top 40 most powerful celebrities as compiled by Forbes. The list consists of actors, cerebral authors, musicians, movie producers, super models, TV personalities and athletes selected across Africa. The celebrities selected are of diverse generation.
Forbes compiled this list based on over 7,500 entries that were sent to them.
- Chinua Achebe, 80, Nigerian, Novelist
- Youssou N’dour, Age: 51, Senegalese, Musician
- Didier Drogba, 33, Ivorian, Soccer Player
- Angelique Kidjo, 51, Beninoise, Musician
- Akon, 38, Senegalese, Musician
- Wole Soyinka, 77, Nigerian, Playwright
- Salif Keita, 62, Malian, Musician
- Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 46, South African, Musician
- Oumou Sangare, 43, Malian, Musician
- Femi Kuti, 49, Nigerian, Musician
- Toumani Diabaté, Malian, Musician
- Oliver Mtukudzi, 59, Zimbabwean, Musician
- Haile Gebrselassie, 38, Ethiopian, Athlete
- Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, 51, Algerian, Musician
- Samuel Eto’o, 30, Cameroonian, Soccer Player
- Alek Wek, 34, Sudanese, Supermodel
- Liya Kebede, 33, Ethiopian, Supermodel
- Dobet Gnahoré, 29, Ivorian, Musician
- Genevieve Nnaji, 32, Nigerian, Actress
- Koffi Olomidé, 55, Congolese, Musician
- Neill Blomkamp, 32, South African, Movie Director
- Souad Massi, 39, Algerian, Musician
- Baaba Maal, 58, Senegalese, Musician
- Hugh Masekela, 72, South African, Musician
- K’Naan, 33, Somali, Rapper
- Amadou and Mariam, Malian, Musicians
- Awilo Longomba, Congolese, Musician
- Eric Wainaina, 38, Kenyan, Musician
- Binyavanga Wainaina, 40, Kenyan, Author
- Ngugi Wa Thiongo, 73, Kenyan, Author
- Freshlyground, South African, Musicians
- Chimamanda Adichie, 34, Nigerian, Writer
- Rokia Traoré, 37, Malian, Musician
- Tuface Idibia, 36, Nigerian, Musician
- P-Square, 29, Nigerian, Musicians
- Don Jazzy, 30, Nigerian, Music Producer
- D’Banj, 31, Nigerian, Musician
- Neka, 31, Nigerian, Musician
- Asa, 29, Nigerian, Musician
- Patricia Amira, 33, Kenyan, TV Personality
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