Some of the most famous African personalities include Nelson Mandela who is famous as the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and the country’s first black president, and Nigerian and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote. Other famous people from Africa include Kenyan 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, 2001 Nobel Prize winner Kofi Annan, marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge, and sports legends Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
The continent has also produced famous actors and actresses who include Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Lesley-Ann Brandt, and The Mummy star, Arnold Vosloo. Other African legends include musicians Christina Shusho, Burna Boy, WizKid, Davido, Miriam Makeba, Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage and Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
Most famous and influential African personalities
34 years old
Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, winner of 3rd season of Project Fame West Africa; made a transition from secular to gospel music
42 years old
Togolese African Footballer of the Year 2008 & striker for Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, Crystal Palace, Real Madrid
Died aged 93
93 years old
65 years old
Beninese-French singer, songwriter, actress, activist famous for the African single hit song Agolo
42 years old
South African comedian, political commentator, actor, writer, producer and TV host famous as host of The Daily Show from 2015 to 2022
Died aged 78
Dictator & 3rd president of Uganda from the military coup of 1971 (overthrow of Milton Obote) to his overthrow in 1979 by Yusuf Kironde Lule
51 years old
Kenyan politician who served as the second Governor of Nairobi from 2017 to his impeachment on 17 December 2020
43 years old
Tanzanian Bongo flava musician whose famous hits include Uko Wapi (2003), Nawewe Milele, Niwe Nawe, Mahaba Ya Dhati
52 years old
Nigerian actor, film director and politician who has starred in many Nollywood films such as Yahoo Millionaire (2007)
Famous people from Africa
Famous Nigerian authors Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, as well as Kenyan novelist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o are also among the most famous African celebrities and legends.
There are other countless influential personalities from Africa. Most famous people from Africa have excelled in politics, sports, business, entertainment and history. In addition, these celebrities from Africa span all the main regions of the continent.
These are North Africa, South Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and the six African Island nations of Madagascar, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Seychelles, Comoros, and Sao Tome and Principe.
