Ever since Dr. Michael Hart wrote in 1978 his authoritative and well-researched book, ‘The 100,’ the world has been witnessing the nomination of the most influential persons in global history, an annual event for media establishments to select people who have impacted on their communities, countries, continents and the world at large.
In its December/January 2025 edition, the New African magazine concluded its yearly activities as the watchdog of the society, unveiling to us the list of the Most Influential Africans for 2024 after prolonged scrutiny and in-depth analysis. The roll call gives a vivid expression of African talents, superiority, innovative minds and positive achievements that have shaped lives and events, exploring and widening the academic and professional ingenuity of Africans, influencing global themes and perspectives. While deeply appreciating their selfless services to the development of humanity and the continent, they are shining stars that brighten our time and ginger the future generations.
Profoundly reflecting on the cataloging of the emerging realities and trends across Africa, it is undisputable that the chosen names resonate with the landmark accomplishments and contributions recorded by Africans drawn from diverse fields of human endeavors, impacting tremendously on the continent and beyond. Bolstering the indispensability image of Africa and gifted Africans, it is also a driving template for our continental pride and strength of Africa. It is the message of sterling resilience and substantial drive for a re-invention.
Given its painstaking operation to discover people with extra-ordinary abilities among millions, the annual selection is carried out deploying systematic and robust criteria. Included here are persons in position of authority and the influence they wield, people whose commitment to African economic development is impactful and yielding positive outcomes, people with proper conducts and actions with tremendous bearing on the socioeconomic segment of the society.
Also considered is the irresistible value of personal development and unflinching integrity of nominated persons, such as showcasing exemplary leadership, professional capacity applied by a person for any given task as well as endowment of personal image among others. All these are essential norms that provide the accepted rules for choosing an effective person. In as much as size of followership matters, also significant is the possession and demonstration of communication skills for influencing opinion and action as a yardstick for nomination.
As politics and public service draw a wide range of personalities such as Yemi Osinbajo, Mohammed Ali Pate, Ronald Lamola, the business domain sees the elevation and extolling of Aliko Dangote, Fatima Tambajang, Adebayo Ogunlesi, Manuel Moses, Prof. Benedict Okey Orama and what have you. For civil societies, the nominated names include Nelson Ameny, Okwonkwo Nwunedi, Mohammed Adow and the rest. In the field of academia and science, the prominent names are Elhadj As Sy, Joy Buolamwini, Chinasa T. Okolo. Opinion shapers include Olajide Olatunji, Carlos Lope, Hannah Ryder. In the world of creativity and culture, we have beautiful names such as Zineb Sedira, Idris Elba, Ken Wakia, DJ Edu, Hassan Hajjaj, Victoria Kimani. These are just few of the influential Africans who won the New African Magazine’s nomination.
Accordingly, it is amazing we learn that Ethiopian-born Abeba Birhane conducted research that revealed how large-scale image datasets commonly used to develop AI systems contained racist and misogynistic labels as well as offensive images. It is for you to know that Senegalese Ibrahima Cheikh Diong entered the list after taking on the role of executive director for the newly formed ‘Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage’ which will have a direct impact on how developing nations will be able to respond to the worst effect of the climate crisis.
Our ability in sports spoke volume last year. Who had ever thought that we would celebrate Olympic medallists? Who had expected that Letsile Tebogo would steal the show during the 200m final to bring Botswana its first Gold medal? We will continue to remember Sifan Hassan, the first female athlete to win medals in the 5k, 10k and Marathon ( Olympic Record) events in the same game. All these were not personal victories,but also the triumph of Africa and its racial identification.
Also impressive is Nigeria’s Yemi Osinbajo making the list, probably because of his impactful showcasing as the acting president when his boss was far away for medication. The lucid but momentous period saw him as a responsible administrator indoctrinated by not only knowledge,but more importantly character. In the end, he left milestones achievements as a prolific leader with long-term effects. Thus, he is reputed to be both a true leader and an effective manager.
However, a balancing and inclusion of revered traditional and devoted religious leaders of tremendous significance would have made the packaging more attractive because of the followership they command and the exalted positions they occupy. We are all directly or indirectly affected by their deeds and actions. Their unpredictable missing in the list is, probably, an omission with a purpose which needs adequate explanation from the awarding judges. To give the next award a befitting boost, people who overwhelm or alter events should be included to go beyond people who have enhanced events or circumstances. Women presentation ought to be significantly increased for fair gender reflection. The fields of selection should also be broaden for universality.
Heartly celebrating these people is rejoicing with Africa’s development and its future. If we must think African, we must also think of those Africans who create and install a new Africa for a new vision by renewing our hope. We shall continue thinking big about Africa, redefining and reconstructing human potentialities, improving and changing the world. We want the world to feel the pulse of Africa.
In a nutshell, we are presented with a concise, but comprehensive narrative of Africa, of its illustrious sons and daughters, of its massively human potentialities, of its increasingly positive strides for global connections and relationships.
Abdu Abdullahi
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