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 Yemi Alade 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
4th president of Egypt from 1981 to 2011, 41st prime minister from 1981 to 1982
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who was born in Kenya and promoted on November 14 at a ceremony in Fort Lee, Virginia
Kenyan singer, actress famous as first runners-up in 2nd second season of Tusker Project Fame in 2008 and known for her songs Haiwi Haiwi, Chali
2nd president of Zimbabwe from 1987 to 2017, and 1st Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987
Nigerian veteran nollywood actor who started acting in 1964 and starred in the first Yoruba film, Ajani Ogun (1976)
13th president of Ghana from January 2017 to January 2025
Ghanaian-British actor famous as Oenomaus on Spartacus (2010–2013) and Persian messenger on 300
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.
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