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
Military head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975 when he was overthrown and went into exile in the UK
Former First Lady of South Africa and Mozambique, as wife of former presidents Samora Machel (Mozambique) and Nelson Mandela (South Africa)
Died aged 66
President of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1971 to 1997
Second President of Mozambique from 1986 to 2005 and Chairperson of the African Union from 2003 to 2004
Died aged 58
Nigerian musician in the Afrobeat music genre, and political activist who was the father of musician Femi Kuti
Nigerian gospel singer and actress who won the second season of Nigerian reality TV show Nigerian Idol
President of Zimbabwe, and first vice-president of Robert Mugabe from 2014 until 2017
President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000
Nigerian footballer who has played as a forward for Larnaca, Sparta Prague, and Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake
Died aged 53
First President of Mozambique, serving from its indipendence in 1975 to his death in the 1986 plane crash
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.
