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Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women By Forbes Woman Africa Magazine

Posted On : April 10, 2020

Ann Mumbi

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This is a first-of-its-kind Pan-African unranked compilation of the continent’s leading women, drawn from business, politics, media, science, sports and public life, who are challenging the status quo and creating a trail on terrain where there was none.

Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women By Forbes Woman Africa Magazine

They are reshaping history, closing inequalities and pioneering new avenues of wealth creation and in turn, lifting others with them.

The unprecedented, unranked list features the continent’s leading women, drawn from business, politics, media, science, sports and public life, who are challenging the status quo and creating a trail on terrain where there was none. They are reshaping history, closing inequalities and pioneering new avenues of wealth creation and in turn, lifting others with them.

 

NAMECOUNTRYTITLESECTOR
GRACA MACHELSOUTH AFRICAFOUNDER, GRACA MACHEL TRUSTSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
CLARE AKAMANZIRWANDACEO, RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARDSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT/GOVERNANCE
FOLORUNSO ALAKIJANIGERIAEXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR, FAMFA OILOIL SECTOR
JENNIFER RIRIAKENYAGROUP CEO, ECHO NETWORK AFRICA (ENA); FOUNDING MEMBER, KENYA WOMEN FINANCE TRUSTFINANCE
LOUISE MUSHIKIWABORWANDASECRETARY GENERAL, ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE (OIF)
AYA CHEBBITUNISIABLOGGER AND AFRICA UNION YOUTH ENVOYMEDIA
ELSIE KANZATANZANIAHEAD OF AFRICA AND MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUMFINANCE
IBUKUN AWOSIKANIGERIAFOUNDER AND CEO, THE CHAIR CENTRE GROUPMANUFACTURING
DR JUDY DLAMINISOUTH AFRICAFOUNDER, MBEKANI GROUPSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
CHARLIZE THERONSOUTH AFRICAHOLLYWOOD ACTRESSENTERTAINMENT
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIENIGERIAAUTHOR, PUBLIC SPEAKERPUBLISHING
PHUTI MAHANYELE-DABENGWASOUTH AFRICACEO, NASPERS SOUTH AFRICATECHNOLOGY
OBIAGELI ‘OBY’ EZEKWESILINIGERIASENIOR ECONOMIC ADVISOR, AFRICA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY INITIATIVE (AEDPI)SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
GLENDA GRAYSOUTH AFRICAPRESIDENT AND CEO, SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (SAMRC)HEALTHCARE
THULI MADONSELASOUTH AFRICALAW TRUST CHAIR, SOCIAL JUSTICE RESEARCH AT STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITYLAW
WENDY LUHABESOUTH AFRICASOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR & CO-FOUNDER, WIPHOLDFINANCE
ANGÉLIQUE KIDJOBENINFOUR-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNERENTERTAINMENT
MANAL ROSTOMEGYPTFOUNDER, SURVIVING HIJAB AND FACE OF NIKE PRO HIJABHEALTH AND FITNESS
LYDIA NSEKERABURUNDIPRESIDENT, NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (NOC) OF BURUNDI AND MEMBER OF FIFA COUNCILSPORT/GOVERNANCE
WINNIE BYANYIMAUGANDAEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNAIDSSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALANIGERIACHAIR, BOARD OF THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR VACCINES AND IMMUNISATION (GAVI)HEALTHCARE
PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKASOUTH AFRICAEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNITED NATIONS (UN) WOMENSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
WARIS DIRIESOMALIAPRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, DESERT FLOWER FOUNDATIONSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAFLIBERIAFIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATEGOVERNANCE
YVONNE CHAKA CHAKASOUTH AFRICAAWARD-WINNING MUSICIANENTERTAINMENT
SAHLE-WORK ZEWDEETHIOPIAPRESIDENT OF ETHIOPIAGOVERNANCE
MAMOKGETHI (KGETHI) PHAKENGSOUTH AFRICAVICE-CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT)EDUCATION
REBECCA ENONCHONGCAMEROONFOUNDER & CEO, APPSTECHTECHNOLOGY
BONANG MATHEBASOUTH AFRICAMEDIA PERSONALITY, ENTREPRENEURENTERTAINMENT
FATMA SAMOURASENEGALSECRETARY-GENERAL, FIFASPORT
IRENE CHARNLEYSOUTH AFRICAFOUNDER, SMILE COMMUNICATIONSTECHNOLOGY
UCHENNA ‘UCHE’ PEDRONIGERIAFOUNDER AND CEO, BELLANAIJAMEDIA
ILWAD ELMANSOMALIAFOUNDER, ELMAN PEACE CENTREACTIVISM
WENDY APPELBAUMSOUTH AFRICAFOUNDER AND CHAIRPERSON, DE MORGENZON WINE ESTATEENTREPRENEUR
OLAJUMOKE ADENOWONIGERIAFOUNDER, AD CONSULTINGADVERTISING
BETHLEHEM TILAHUN ALEMUETHIOPIAFOUNDER AND CEO, SOLEREBELS FOOTWEAR, GARDEN OF COFFEE, TEFFTASTICENTREPRENEUR
NKOSAZANA DLAMINI-ZUMASOUTH AFRICAMINISTER OF COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH AFRICAGOVERNANCE
WENDY ACKERMANSOUTH AFRICAEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PICK ‘N PAYRETAIL
CASTER SEMENYASOUTH AFRICAOLYMPIC CHAMPIONSPORT
RAWYA MANSOUREGYPTFOUNDER AND CEO, RAMSCOAGRICULTURE
ARUNMA OTEHNIGERIAACADEMIC SCHOLAR, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD FORMER TREASURER AND VICE PRESIDENT, WORLD BANK LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE AFRICA ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERFINANCE
FATOU BENSOUDAGAMBIAPROSECUTOR, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)LAW
HAJER SHARIEFLIBYAHUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATEACTIVISM
AMINA J. MOHAMMEDNIGERIADEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONSSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
PRECIOUS MOTSEPESOUTH AFRICAFOUNDER, AFRICAN FASHION INTERNATIONALFASHION
LUPITA NYONG’OKENYAOSCAR-WINNING ACTORENTERTAINMENT
VERA SONGWECAMEROONEXECUTIVE SECRETARY, UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICASOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
MAGDA WIERZYCKASOUTH AFRICAFOUNDER, SYGNIAFINANCE
TARA FELA-DUROTOYENIGERIAFOUNDER, HOUSE OF TARA INTERNATIONALBEAUTY
THERESA KACHINDAMOTOMALAWICHIEF OF DEDZA DISTRICTSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Forbes Africa research looked at Africa’s leading women across sectors and industries, as well as government agencies and non-profit institutions. We sifted through several recognition lists, conducted Forbes Africa own research in coming up with new names, and short-listed nominations that came in from Forbes Africa editorial teams across Africa, applying our own metrics of leadership, influence, consistency, and most importantly, impact. In addition to this list, this issue also features an important story on the effect of the coronavirus on corporate Africa.

Also in the focus section, a story on the future of African mining. And a tennis match on African soil that brought together two legends and the world’s second-richest man.

This article originally appeared on Forbes Africa

Author Mashokane Mahlo

Ann Mumbi

An expert in style and image, Fashion Addict focuses on brands worn by showbiz stars who have large numbers of fans worldwide Member Of #NairobiFashionHub Team

Ann Mumbi

An expert in style and image, Fashion Addict focuses on brands worn by showbiz stars who have large numbers of fans worldwide Member Of #NairobiFashionHub Team

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