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
69 years old
Nigerian businessman famous as the richest man in Africa and the richest black man in the world with a net worth of about $26.3 billion
37 years old
Nigerian nollywood actress whose recent movies include Saving Rita, Everybody Loves Jenifa
68 years old
Veteran Nigerian/ Nollywood actress who has acted in over 100 movies and in some of Nollywood's highest grossing films
41 years old
82 years old
President of Uganda since 1986
64 years old
Fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022
34 years old
Egyptian professional football player, also known as Mo Salah, who has played as a right winger or forward for Liverpool
37 years old
French-Gabonese footballer who plays as a striker for Gabon national team, and Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea
42 years old
Canadian-born Ghanaian actress famous for her role in Ghanaian film "Princess Tyra"
73 years old
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.
