1. Chinua Achebe, 80, Novelist (Nigeria)
2. Youssou N'dour, 51, Musician (Senegal)
3. Didier Drogba, 33, Footballer (Cote D'Voire)
4. Angelique Kidjoe, 51, Musician (Benin Republic)
5. Akon, 38, Musician (Senegal)
6. Wole Soyinka, 77, Playwright (Nigeria)
7. Salif Keita, 62, Musician (Mali)
8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 46, (South African)
9. Oumou Sang, 43, Musician (Mali)
10. Femi Kuti, 49, Musician (Nigerian)
Do you agree that these are the top 10 most influential people in Africa? Please continue for the rest...
11. Toumani Diabaté, Malian, Musician
12. Oliver Mtukudzi, 59, Zimbabwean, Musician
13. Haile Gebrselassie, 38, Ethiopian, Athlete
14. Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, 51, Algerian, Musician
15. Samuel Eto'o, 30, Cameroonian, Soccer Player
16. Alek Wek, 34, Sudanese, Supermodel
17. Liya Kebede, 33, Ethiopian, Supermodel
18. Dobet Gnahoré, 29, Ivorian, Musician
19. Genevieve Nnaji, 32, Nigerian, Actress
20. Koffi Olomidé, 55, Congolese, Musician
21. Neill Blomkamp, 32, South African, Movie Director
22. Souad Massi, 39, Algerian, Musician
23. Baaba Maal, 58, Senegalese, Musician
24. Hugh Masekela, 72, South African, Musician
25. K'Naan, 33, Somali, Rapper
26. Amadou and Mariam, Malian, Musicians
27. Awilo Longomba, Congolese, Musician
28. Eric Wainaina, 38, Kenyan, Musician
29. Binyavanga Wainaina, 40, Author (Kenya)30. Ngugi Wa Thiongo, 73, Author (Kenya)
31. Freshlyground, Musicians (South Africa)
32. Chimamanda Adichie, 34, Writer (Nigeria)
33. Rokia Traoré, 37, Musician (Mali)
34. Tuface Idibia, 36, Musician (Nigeria)
35. P-Square, 29, Musicians (Nigeria)
36. Don Jazzy, 30, Music Producer (Nigeria)
37. D'Banj, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
38. Nneka, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
39. Asa, 29, Musician (Nigeria)
40. Patricia Amira, 33, TV Personality (Kenya)
Some are influential, while others are just famous. There's a difference.
ReplyDeleteFamous? and influential?
ReplyDeleteexactly at dedee,u said it right
ReplyDeleteThe list is accurate and since i know a few people in the list
ReplyDeleteOh and many Nigerians do make the list! Who says we are not Giant of Africa?
ReplyDeletewhere is omotola,she is meant to be dere,besides i dnt tink genevieve is more powerful than 2face
ReplyDeleteThey tell us what to wear, eat and drink. Now it's who is most powerful in our mist. They don't have to tell us, we know who is who. Please, Move on
ReplyDeleteHow I speak and writes speaks volumes about my character and outlook in life. The list of the celebrities are incorrect. Most names are missing. Where is Linda Ikeji, Omotola jalade, Kanu Nwankwo? Stella Damasus. Being famous, powerful or influential are three different things.
ReplyDeleteEG,,,
Linda Ikeji, Omotola jalade are influential. Kanu Nwankwo is famous and stella Damasus is powerful. lol
Am off to bed, tired. 8 hours in office, 4 hours on this Desk top PC. Need rest sofort.
Proudly Nigerian. We are representing and pulling our own weight in the continent.
ReplyDeletei think the list is accurate......... why should omotola be on the list????? this is a list for africa as much as i'm not a genevieve she get levels across africa and here in the states. def china achebe as first although some are missing where is kofi anan
ReplyDelete2face is also on the list, alongside Psquare,Don Jazzy,D'Banj,Nneka and Asa.Nigerians are fully represented.
ReplyDeleteFrom the article, I think its fair to say to an extent they are right, kept wondering about Asa and Nneka then I saw them at the tail end, so yeah pretty accurate and Linda Ikeji would have been 41 if the list had continue...because this blog brings me gratification...lol
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the names i just had to look for a disclaimer on the website and *YES* i found one;-
ReplyDeleteThe opinions of this write up is entirely the writer's who is a reporter for forbes.
So i went further to know who the writer is, he is a Nigerian reporter for daily whatever paper in Kenya.(lil' wonder keyans & Nigerians top the list)
My point is; Most names/ arrangement on this list are entirely the writer's (reporters) opinion and represents no truth. Some are famous not powerful while some are and influential. Now where are names like Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote, Bola shagaya or ok entertainment? where's Omotola, Ramsey nouah, Kanu nwakwo, jay jay Okocha, Oluchi or Agbani....enough
GOODBYE
Bullet to their head! They r very stupid. Obviously, whomever wrote the list sat at their desk and listed the first 10 africans that came to mind. Hiss. Oyibo pple sef.
ReplyDeleteHow can this be a complete list? what of Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon?? The guy should be number one on the list for the most "POWERFUL".lol
ReplyDeletewhat a sham list. only Nigerians because the man blogging lives in Nigeria. Psquare? influential? Funmi Iyanda is not there, no Ghanaian is there either.
ReplyDeleteerrrmmmm...WHAT DO YOU/THEY DEFINE AS POWER? DID THEY EVEN CHECK UP THE MEANING OF THAT WORD?
ReplyDeleteYes dey are the top 10 in afriac
ReplyDeletehttp://naijagosip.blogspot.com
@ anon 10.12PM
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to real celebrities, Omotola is a "waka pass" actress. pls live with it.
She is not in the same class with Genevieve.
As far as African movies are concerned, Genny is the most outstanding.
@Linda, i think the list is fair enough.
Proud of all my Naija stars that made the list.
as far as 2face is not there its rubbish
ReplyDeleteSome are influential, while
ReplyDeleteothers are just famous.
There's a difference.
http://naijagosip.blogspot.com
I Love my country- Nigeria, but i think Nelson Mandela should be No.1.
ReplyDelete60percent correct for me,
ReplyDeleteWhat was their criteria for this rating?
ReplyDelete2face Idibia, Don Jazzy, D'Banj and Genevieve made it to the list.
ReplyDeleteU left Somebody Chief Osita Osadebe he is 1 of the African Forbes
ReplyDeleteWell who ever made that list goofed big time. how can you mention the mention the most influential celebrities in Africa without MANDELA. Mandela is not just a politician, he is the most celebrated African alive. How could they do that?
ReplyDeleteThe list is about celebrities that have influence pop culture, in otherwords musicians, writers, artists:actors and actresses etc etc, so Mike Adenuga and Aliko Dangote are not in the picture because then you will be talking about the wealthiest celebrities which is another category. In the same vein, Nelson Mandela may be the most influential man in Africa but he does not fit into this category. Shikena.
ReplyDeleteNot even a ghanaian on the list, isnt dat funny. most of d pple here are just popular nt influetial.
ReplyDeleteLonz here says
ReplyDeleteThe list is partly correct. But to tell me that 2face,psquare rank more than asa internationally is wrong. In nigeria yes but outside nigeria No. Also their classification is vague, if chinuwa is there then what stops emecheta,is chinua really a celeb. If he is then what of mandela. Ok koffi annan nko. If they had penned in entertainment it would have been way better.
anon 6;33am,how can u call omotola waka pass,u re very funny,if u want to knw she is the best,besides dis list is inaccurate, if chinua is a celebrity,den nelson mandela,adenuga,dangote are powerful celebrities,dis list is on famous celebrity besides no ghanian,dis is inequality,no equity at all
ReplyDeleteTh fact that Nelson Mandela isn't there shows how innacurate this list is. Till now,(correct me if I am wrong)the most influential african in the world is Nelson Mandela. So, If a world summit was called, would Dbanj and Genevieve be chosen ovr Nelson Mandela, Kofi Anan, Desmond Tutu, Aliko Dangote?????
ReplyDeletei dont tink the writer knows the meaning of powerful,it doesnt mean famous,in america the list of powerful celebs is filled with names u dnt knw,like philanthropist,human activist etc,famous celebrities are actresses,musicians etc,this is weong,anyways the list is inaccurate cos omotola is very influential.
ReplyDeleteinequality at its highest,nigerians and kenyans tuk like half the listmwhr are the ghanians,though am a nigerian
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS SOOOO WRONG !!!!!! where is KOFI ANNAN ?????? This is just wrong !!! Where is MICHEAL ESSIEN ?? THIS IS JUST WRONG !!!!
ReplyDeletesome pple sef, smh, as if they didn't notice "in Africa", yes 2face is veerrry influential in africa so are most Nigeria musicians. yes they are popular but with popularity comes the ability to influence.
ReplyDeleteThe key word being influence (just INFLUENCE) not influence positively or negatively for that matter; influence full stop.
do you know how many pple will line d streets willingly in most african countries if psquare or dbanj flies in or those that use studs or wear tattoos because of these artists.
Mandela used to be an influence, yes he is still remembered (mostly in seriously intellectual discussions), when he dies, pple will mourn, yes, no doubt but when last have you really thought/talked about mandela but in the last two weeks, you probably have seen tuface and then proceeded to talk about him. do you know how many upcoming artists or just young entrepreneurs who swear to be as humble as the guy when they finally make it. na so e bi.
Linda I is powerful in Nigeria, in fact very powerful (she moulds some of our thoughts thru our days) but in Africa, haba (she gats work harder). Funmi Iyanda is in Nigeria too and a few African countries.
You get very powerful when you are in a position to mould people's thoughts, emotions and they come into contact with you everyday and how is that done; TV, radio, blogs, books etc and that's exactly how these pple have come to be in this list. they are not there for their positive attitude/influence or their general goodness but for the fact that they are quite ubiquitous in our lives.
Tuface's music can brighten some people's day, omotola's film can spoil your mood or whatever.
the Forbes list is wrong,right? all because Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde didn't make it? Mscheeeeeeeeeeeeeew! Typical Yoruba inferiority complex! Pls face the reality! Your girl is just not relevant except for showing off her flabs!
ReplyDeleteTop ten have more famous people than those who are influential. There is a difference between fame and influence. Some names in the top ten dont deserve to be there....Not sure what criteria was used in compiling the list and rankings.
ReplyDeletei no agree with u linda
ReplyDeletewhere is omosexy in this list?????
ReplyDeleteSome are influential, while others are just famous. There's a difference. <-- i agree with Dee dee's comment. such a dissapointing list. More famous than powerful/influential people on there.
ReplyDeleteI just wasted the last 3minutes of my life reading that ridiculous spur-of-the-moment jargon.
ReplyDeleteOh Heavenly God of Israel! where the freaking hell are Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga? Maybe the biased writer is got some deaf for these powerful niggas who have employed over 80,000 Nigerians in their respective conglomerates. ***crying mode activated***
ReplyDeletepls how is femi kuti influential? i be calabar girl oooo and we only sabi fela. nobody sabi femi talkless of influence. mek dat forbes guy park well joor
ReplyDelete@franni!!lmao!!
ReplyDeleteThe list is not accurate cos some of our 'men of God' in Nigeria have more influence than some people that made the list let me not call names.
ReplyDeleted list is somehow not ok. where is d lyk of kanu,desmond tutu,e.t.c.
ReplyDeletethe rating is kinda wrong, why would u rate awilo ahead don jazzy. even asa is 39th. my opinion tho
ReplyDeleteNna forget dis list! D most influencial/powerful ppl are the oyakilomes,adeboyes. Even papa chinua ranks lower dan these
ReplyDeleteIf they are talking bout actors and actresses,why isn't d likes of Olu Jacobs and joke silver on the list?
ReplyDelete