This year’s list of the most influential Africans is dominated by women.
In a year that saw over 200 schoolgirls abducted overnight by the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, Obiageli Ezekwesili is listed by New African for her influence in civil society and activism.
One of the founders of Transparency International, Ezekwesili used her voice to speak up for those who could not with the #BringbackOurGirls campaign.
Another woman who made the list is Lupita Nyong’o, celebrated by New African for winning an Oscar for her role in 12 Years a Slave. The academy Award-winning actress was also appointed ambassador for Lancôme cosmetics and named as Glamour’s woman of the year.
More than 40 women featured on the New Africa list of influential Africans for 2014. South Africa and Nigeria dominate the listing with 33 and 27 entries respectively. There are also four African heads of state: Kenya’s President Kenyatta, Egypt’s President al-Sisi, Chad’s President Déby and Uganda’s President Museveni. All have featured prominently in 2014, with the latter two playing important roles mediating regional conflicts.
This was also the year for “Afri-innovator” Kelvin Doe. A self-taught engineer by the age of 13, Doe used scraps to build a generator to power a radio station to entertain audiences under the guise of DJ Focus. He has since signed a $100 000 deal to develop his own solar power technology.
Some of the names on the list are expected, such as businessman Aliko Dangote, Donald Kaberuka of the African Development Bank and Carlos Lopes of the Economic Commission for Africa. New faces include emerging satirist Ikenna Azuike, who has just signed a show with the BBC, and Chester Missing, the puppet which makes so much noise in southern Africa.