Gurira among 100 most influential Africans

By Winstone Antonio | Dec. 29, 2023 | 4 Min read

On the list, Gurira is joined by compatriot Tsitsi Masiyiwa, wife to business mogul Strive. She is under the Politics and Public Service category.

ZIMBABWEAN playwright-cum-Hollywood actress Danai Jekesai Gurira has made it among the top 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023 according to the continent’s leading publication, New African.

The magazine this Friday released its annual listing of the 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023 recognising the achievements and contributions of Africans from various fields and sectors, who have made a positive impact on the continent and the world.

The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2023 is a special edition of New African magazine, which offers a comprehensive and insightful overview of the lives and achievements of the selected individuals.

The magazine also provides a platform for the readers to learn from their stories, and to be inspired by their examples.

The list includes politicians, entrepreneurs, industrialists, environmentalists, creatives, scientists, educators and sports personalities among others considered to have demonstrated excellence, innovation, leadership, resilience and vision in their respective domains.

The United States-based Gurira is famed for her role in American superhero film Black Panther. She is also the co-founder and executive artistic director of Almasi, a Zimbabwean-American drama arts collaborative organisation.

According to New African, Gurira’s career is characterised by her outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry and her advocacy for women’s rights and social justice.

“Her portrayal of Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje warriors in the superhero films Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), brought her universal acclaim for her acting. But she is also an accomplished playwright. Her play Eclipsed made history as the first Broadway production to feature an all-female, all-Black cast and creative team,” the magazine said.

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It said Gurira’s career is a “testament to her many talents and her commitment to using her profile for positive change.”

“Her impact on both the entertainment industry and the realm of activism marks her as someone who continues to inspire and make a difference,” New African said.

On the list, Gurira is joined by compatriot Tsitsi Masiyiwa, wife to business mogul Strive. She is under the Politics and Public Service category.

Creatives dominate the ranking with 31 representatives, followed by business with 25 entries while Nigeria is the most represented country on the list, highlighting its dominance in the creative sector and business.

The creatives on the list includes singer Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weekend, filmmaker Alice Diop and writer Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah.

The business section includes two behemoths from DFIs, supporting a private sector approach to investing: Samaila Zubairu from Africa Finance Corporation and the President of Afreximbank, Benedict Oramah, undoubtedly Africa’s juggernaut from the last few years leading Africa’s transformation.

Also on the list is the former CEO of Eskom and whistleblower who nearly paid with his life, André de Ruyter.

William Ruto, the President of Kenya, is the only head of state to make it, along with the Guinean military leader Mamady Doumbouya. Doumbouya created quite a stir at this year’s UN General Assembly and appears to have found a solution around the Simandou mining saga.

With Climate Change at the top of the agenda, the list features several players in the environmental space, such as James Mwangi, formerly from Dalberg Group who has set up his own venture fund investing in climate related businesses, and Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

In the media, there are two media leaders from Côte d’Ivoire, Fabrice Sawegnon, founder of communications agency Voodoo, and Daniel Ahaoussa, serial entrepreneur and founder of several websites in West and Central Africa. Also included are the journalist Alan Kasujja, the BBC journalist, and Branko Brkic, founder of Daily Maverick, arguably the most powerful media in South Africa today.

In sports, record breakers Faith Kipyegon and Kelvin Kiptum make it, as well as the Springboks team, under the leadership of their captain Siya Kolisi. Patrice Motsepe, the President of CAF, a close friend of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and an increasingly influential voice in sports, is also included.

Below the list in full.

Politics and Public Service

William Ruto

Ibrahima Cheikh Diong

Sidi Ould Tah

Akinwumi Adesina

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Bola Tinubu

Mamady Doumbouya

Ousmane Sonko

Nadia Fettah Alaoui

Tsitsi Masiyiwa