Famous People from Africa: Most influential African personalities

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, 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 Miriam Makeba, Yemi Alade,Tiwa Savage and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, award-winning authors Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and religious leaders and activists.

Most famous and influential African personalities

Mike Ezuruonye
Mike Ezuruonye
Born on 21 Sep 1982
43 years old
Nigerian nollywood actor, director and businessman
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Born on 7 Aug 1975
50 years old

South African actress and producer famous in The Italian Job (2003) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

OC Ukeje
OC Ukeje
Born on 15 Jul 1981
44 years old

Nigerian actor, musician & model famous as winner of Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show

Khanyi Mbau
Khanyi Mbau
Born on 15 Oct 1985
40 years old
TV presenter, musician, business woman, socialite and South African actress
Zari Hassan
Zari Hassan
Born on 23 Sep 1981
44 years old
Ugandan socialite, TV personality, businesswoman, actress, musician & Diamond Platnumz baby mama
Janet Museveni
Janet Museveni
Born on 24 Jun 1948
77 years old
First Lady of Uganda, Minister for Education and Sports, and wife to president Yoweri Museveni
Andile Ncube
Andile Ncube
Born on 4 Oct 1981
44 years old
Reality TV show host, musician, producer, South African TV and radio personality
Alassane Ouattara
Alassane Ouattara
Born on 1 Jan 1942
84 years old

President of Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) since 2010

Diamond Platnumz
Diamond Platnumz
Born on 2 Oct 1989
36 years old
Bongo flava recording artist, philanthropist, dancer, businessman and TV personality
Dayo Okeniyi
Dayo Okeniyi
Born on 14 Jun 1988
37 years old
Nigerian-American actor known as Thresh in The Hunger Games (2012) and Danny Dyson in Terminator Genisys (2015)
Displaying 101 to 110 of 166 records
Page 11 of 17
Famous people from Africa
Famous Africans, from left: Famous Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathai, actress Charlize Theron, comedian Trevor Noah, actress Lupita Nyong’o and football player Mohamed Salah

Famous Legends from all the 5 Regions of the continent

There are other countless influential personalities from Africa. The most famous people from Africa have excelled in politics, sports, business, entertainment and history. Moreover, 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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terry Sheeroh, owner and editor at Famousand.com

Terry Sheeroh, Owner, editor at Famous birthdays & biographies

Terry is a mom, wife and an entrepreneur who has many years of experience in the beauty and fashion business. She is the founder of this website and also a full-time mother to her two sons, Johnson and Joseph. Terry has a big passion for cooking and trying out new recipes. She enjoys writing, hair-styling, knitting, travelling, and cooking for family and friends.