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
52 years old
Nigerian actor, film director and politician who has starred in many Nollywood films such as Yahoo Millionaire (2007)
51 years old
Nigerian actress & winner of the 2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role
44 years old
Tanzanian Bongo flava musician whose famous hits include Uko Wapi (2003), Nawewe Milele, Niwe Nawe, Mahaba Ya Dhati
35 years old
Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, winner of 3rd season of Project Fame West Africa; made a transition from secular to gospel music
65 years old
Kenyan academic, associate professor at Moi University, and politician who ran for president in the 2013 general elections
66 years old
Beninese-French singer, songwriter, actress, activist famous for the African single hit song Agolo
Died aged 50
1st prime minister of Uganda, and 1st chief justice of Uganda from 27 June 1971 to 21 September 1972
35 years old
Kenyan gold-medal winning athlete and long-distance runner in the 3000 and 5000 metres
44 years old
Kenyan athlete who has competed and won the 3000 metres steeplechase, including at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Died aged 93
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.
