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
Nigerian actor, film director and politician who has starred in many Nollywood films such as Yahoo Millionaire (2007)
Senegalese footballer, one of the greatest African players of all time, African Footballer of the Year in 2020 & 2022
Togolese African Footballer of the Year 2008 & striker for Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, Crystal Palace, Real Madrid
South African comedian, political commentator, actor, writer, producer and TV host famous as host of The Daily Show from 2015 to 2022
Dictator & 3rd president of Uganda from the military coup of 1971 (overthrow of Milton Obote) to his overthrow in 1979 by Yusuf Kironde Lule
Ivorian retired professional footballer, famous as a striker at Chelsea, African Footballer of the Year in 2006 & 2009
Kenyan singer whose music is a combination of traditional and modern genres using traditional instruments such as the Nyotiti
Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, winner of 3rd season of Project Fame West Africa; made a transition from secular to gospel music
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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