Every year, TIME Magazine makes a list of the 100 most influential personalities in the world. The list is divided into 5 groups namely, Titans, Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, and Icons – it features people who have made a difference through their work.
Whether it’s through entertaining, leading, lending a voice to the weak and invisible, or even unleashing terror on many (Boko Haram is on the list and has terrorised Nigeria and its neighbours for about six years now), the list is extensive and encompassing. For the 2015 edition, below are the black personalities that made the list.
Kanye West
He’s an American rapper that has received multiple awards for his work and married to one of the most famous reality TV stars. The father of one is also a fashion designer. Her wife, Kim Kardashian, is also one of the personalities on TIMES list.
Barack Obama
With a Kenyan father and an American mother, he’s the first black person to become the president of the United States. Obama, who is the president of the most powerful country in the world – is the proud father of two beautiful girls, Malia and Sasha.
Mellody Hobson
She’s an African-American personality whose life goal is to change the world for the better. She’s a businesswoman and currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dreamworks Animation.
Lee Daniels
He’s an African-American film actor, producer, director and directed ‘The Butler’ movie that featured African-American media mogul, Oprah Winfrey. He’s also the creator, director and producer of the critically acclaimed TV series Empire.
ALSO SEE: 3 Africans On Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women List.
Misty Copeland
She’s an African-American gymnasts and ballet dancer. She’s an entertainer that has proven one can overcome personal and physical challenges to become a soloist at the American Ballet Theatre.
Bryan Stevenson
He’s an African-American that has dedicated his life to fighting poverty and challenging racial discrimination in the American criminal-justice system. Bryan believes a person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.
Kira Orange Jones
She’s an African-American teacher, a former State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education – as well as a former Orleans Parish School Board member. As Teach for America’s executive director in New Orleans, she helped in the reformation of New Orleans’ school system after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. She’s also the founder of Educate Now, a non-profit education reform organisation.
Mustafa Hassan
He is an aid worker from Sudan whose work is focused on protecting young and innocent children caught up in the barbarity of war.
Laverne Cox
She’s an African-American actress, a reality TV star as well as a television producer. She’s also a transgender who advocates for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. Laverne is best known for her role as Sophia Burset on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black TV series.
Chris Ofili
He’s a British-Nigerian painter who has been awarded the Turner Prize for his work. He has represented Britain t the Venice Biennale. And his most popular works are No Woman, No Cry and The Holy Virgin Mary.
Audra McDonald
She’s an African-American actress and singer who has acted on television, movies, as well as graced theatre and concert stages. She’s won several Tony awards and her, most recent one is for playing Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.
Kevin Hart
He’s an African-American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Three years ago, this comedian show at Madison Square Garden – was sold-out. This man of humour began his career by winning several amateur comedy competitions at clubs.
ALSO SEE: Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2014.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
She’s Nigeria’s most influential and celebrated novelist. One of her books has been adapted into a movie. Kenyan-Mexican actress, and multiple award-winning star, Lupita Nyong’o has bought the rights to adapt another of her novel. Part of her viral TEDxEuston talks speech, “We Should All Be Feminists,” was sampled on Beyonce’s award-winning single, ‘Flawless’.
Muhammadu Buhari
He was a former military dictator that ruled Nigeria for two years in the 80s and have now been democratically elected to govern the country for a 4-year term. His greatest selling point is fighting corruption and Boko Haram.
Obiageli Ezekwesili
She was Nigeria’s former minister of education and now champions the #BringBackOurGirls campaign raising awareness for the over 200 schoolgirls that were kidnapped in Chibok last year by the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Jerry Brown
He is a Liberian doctor who action helped in saving many people from dying from the deadly Ebola outbreak in his country. Working with the Medical Director of the Eternal Love Winning Africa Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia – Brown trained, taught and treated many people who came to his hospital.
Abubakar Shekau
Believed to be in his 30s, he is the most dangerous, feared and most wanted man in Nigeria. He is the leader of Boko Haram, a dreaded terrorist group that has unleashed terror on Nigerians and it’s neighbours. Their terrorist activities have taken thousands of lives and displaced millions of Nigerians since they became active in 2009. They are responsible for kidnapping over 200 school girls in Chibok, Nigeria.
You can read the full list on TIME Magazine’s website.