The New African Magazine named a list of 50 African trailblazers under the age of 50. The list celebrates the achievements of young Africans from across the continent and within the diaspora.
D'banj
In 19th place on the list is Nigeria’s most famous musician D’Banj. Long before the 2012 hit Oliver Twist, D’Banj was making waves in Nigeria and abroad; winning the award for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007. He also won the Best International Act - Africa BET Awards 2011. He is signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D Music record label as artiste and producer in 2011. His 2012 hit Oliver Twist made it to number two on the UK R&B chart. D’Banj is also a United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace.
Alex Okosi
Music executive Alex Okosi was number two on the list. The Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa was the driving force behind the launch of MTV Base in 2005. The World Economic Forum earlier this year selected Okosi as a Young Global Leader.
Asa
Third on the List is Nigerian musician Asa, who shot to fame in 2007 when her self-titled debut album was a sleeper hit. The husky-voiced chanteuse then embarked on a world tour which included North American and European performances. In 2010 she brought out her sophomore album Beautiful Imperfection.
Ayodeji Adewunmi
Jobberman CEO and President Ayodeji Adewunmi cracked the number five spot on the list for his employment search site. Adewunmi created Jobberman, a site that would go on to become the leading employment site in Nigeria and Ghana, while he was still in University. Jobberman is highly regarded, and it was named as the 8th top tech start-up in Africa in the February 2012 edition of Forbes magazine.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
In at number 13 literary superstar Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie needs no introduction. The author of Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and this year's Americanah has been called the successor to Chinua Achebe. Her second novel, Half of A Yellow Sun, won the 2007 Orange prize for fiction and this year it was adapted into a movie starring Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Genevieve Nnaji. The Igbo writer has been nominated for and awarded a score of literary prizes.
Jobberman CEO and President Ayodeji Adewunmi cracked the number five spot on the list for his employment search site. Adewunmi created Jobberman, a site that would go on to become the leading employment site in Nigeria and Ghana, while he was still in University. Jobberman is highly regarded, and it was named as the 8th top tech start-up in Africa in the February 2012 edition of Forbes magazine.
In at number 13 literary superstar Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie needs no introduction. The author of Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and this year's Americanah has been called the successor to Chinua Achebe. Her second novel, Half of A Yellow Sun, won the 2007 Orange prize for fiction and this year it was adapted into a movie starring Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Genevieve Nnaji. The Igbo writer has been nominated for and awarded a score of literary prizes.
Jite Okoloko
Number 26 on the list is Notore Chemical Industries CEO Jite Okoloko. Okoloko launched his company following a return to Nigeria after a seven year spell in the US. He was motivated by the observation that much of Nigeria's food was imported and aimed to increase food production locally. He has served on the boards of several prominent companies including as managing director and CEO of Ocean and Oil Services Limited and as a Director of Union Bank of Nigeria.
Number 26 on the list is Notore Chemical Industries CEO Jite Okoloko. Okoloko launched his company following a return to Nigeria after a seven year spell in the US. He was motivated by the observation that much of Nigeria's food was imported and aimed to increase food production locally. He has served on the boards of several prominent companies including as managing director and CEO of Ocean and Oil Services Limited and as a Director of Union Bank of Nigeria.
Jason Njoku
iROKO Partners CEO and co-founder Jason Njoku needs no introduction to anyone interested in tech or filmmaking in Nigeria. Njoku co-founded the company with Bastian Gotter in London in 2010. The company aimed to buy up the online rights to Nollywood movies and within months of launching owned the digital rights to more than 500 movies. The company is now the largest licensor and distributor of Nollywood movies online. The company has since launched a music streaming service and several mobile applications. In 2012 Njoku married Nollywood actress Mary Remmy.
iROKO Partners CEO and co-founder Jason Njoku needs no introduction to anyone interested in tech or filmmaking in Nigeria. Njoku co-founded the company with Bastian Gotter in London in 2010. The company aimed to buy up the online rights to Nollywood movies and within months of launching owned the digital rights to more than 500 movies. The company is now the largest licensor and distributor of Nollywood movies online. The company has since launched a music streaming service and several mobile applications. In 2012 Njoku married Nollywood actress Mary Remmy.
Nneka
Number 35 on the list is Nigerian-German musician Nneka. The Warri born and raised singer first entered the public eye in 2003 when she opened for Sean Paul in Hamburg. She has since released four albums, two of which have performed well on the charts in Western Europe. She has toured with Nas and Damian Marley as well as performing at the 2010 Lilith Fair Concert . Her latest album Soul Is Heavy was recorded in Nigeria.
Number 35 on the list is Nigerian-German musician Nneka. The Warri born and raised singer first entered the public eye in 2003 when she opened for Sean Paul in Hamburg. She has since released four albums, two of which have performed well on the charts in Western Europe. She has toured with Nas and Damian Marley as well as performing at the 2010 Lilith Fair Concert . Her latest album Soul Is Heavy was recorded in Nigeria.
P-Square
The music R&B duo P-Square comes in at number 40 on the list. They released their first album in 2001 after winning the 'Grab Da Mic' competition. Their album saw them winning the 'Most Promising African Group' in the Kora Awards. Ever since then they have topped the charts in several African countries and gone on to release four more albums. Their awards include, 2006 Hip Hop World Awards Best R&B Album; Best Duo or Group at the Channel O Music Video Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2011 as well as the Best Group award at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2008 and 2009.
The music R&B duo P-Square comes in at number 40 on the list. They released their first album in 2001 after winning the 'Grab Da Mic' competition. Their album saw them winning the 'Most Promising African Group' in the Kora Awards. Ever since then they have topped the charts in several African countries and gone on to release four more albums. Their awards include, 2006 Hip Hop World Awards Best R&B Album; Best Duo or Group at the Channel O Music Video Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2011 as well as the Best Group award at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2008 and 2009.
Uche Pedro
Nigerian lifestyle blogger Uche Pedro appears at number 45 on the list. Pedro is the mind behind Bella Naija, the massive Nigerian entertainment and lifestyle blog. Her website has a following of more than eight million hits per month and is the winner of several awards, including Online Publication of the Year award at the 2012 FAB Award.
Nigerian lifestyle blogger Uche Pedro appears at number 45 on the list. Pedro is the mind behind Bella Naija, the massive Nigerian entertainment and lifestyle blog. Her website has a following of more than eight million hits per month and is the winner of several awards, including Online Publication of the Year award at the 2012 FAB Award.
Zina Saro-Wiwa
49th on the list is filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa. The Nigerian-born artist is famous for her video installations and documentaries. Her father was the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa who was executed by the Nigerian military regime when she was 19-years-old. The former BBC reporter (she interviewed Chinua Achebe in 2008) is the founding member of the alt-Nollywood movement. She has also made several films and published a number of short stories and essays.
49th on the list is filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa. The Nigerian-born artist is famous for her video installations and documentaries. Her father was the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa who was executed by the Nigerian military regime when she was 19-years-old. The former BBC reporter (she interviewed Chinua Achebe in 2008) is the founding member of the alt-Nollywood movement. She has also made several films and published a number of short stories and essays.
Ngozi Edozien
Actis West Africa head Ngozi Edozien was born in Nigeria and raised in the US. Before joining the private equity firm Edozien was the founding CEO of the Equity Vehicle for Health in Africa. She has worked for Solomon Brothers and JPMorgan, McKinsey & Co and Pfizer. She also holds a BA Honours degree in Social Studies from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Actis West Africa head Ngozi Edozien was born in Nigeria and raised in the US. Before joining the private equity firm Edozien was the founding CEO of the Equity Vehicle for Health in Africa. She has worked for Solomon Brothers and JPMorgan, McKinsey & Co and Pfizer. She also holds a BA Honours degree in Social Studies from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Didn't c my name there,na wah oh! God dey sha. When I grow up....
ReplyDeleteAre they the only Nigerians on the list? Quite surprising,was expecting more. Thou most of them might be disqualified based on age controversy.
ReplyDeleteWhat abt Omosexy & Jim Iyke? I always knew Linda Ikeji is over 50yrs.
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