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
73 years old
Nigerian veteran nollywood actor who started acting in 1964 and starred in the first Yoruba film, Ajani Ogun (1976)
35 years old
Kenyan gospel singer, worship leader whose hit songs include Subiri with Mercy Masika & Emmy Kosgei, and Waweza, Utukufu
83 years old
66 years old
Ghanaian-British actor famous as Oenomaus on Spartacus (2010–2013) and Persian messenger on 300
29 years old
Moroccan-Canadian YouTuber & online streamer famous for gameplay and commentary livestreams on streaming service Twitch
Died aged 98
2nd president of the United Republic of Tanzania from 1985 to 1995
38 years old
Kenyan rapper whose hit songs include Wajinga Nyinyi, Adisia, and actor in Kenyan films and TV shows
54 years old
63 years old
71 years old
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.
