WELCOME TO NERDTWIST
What is influence and how do you measure it?
It will always be hard to agree on a common
understanding and meaning of influence.
Understandably, this always generates wide
debate.
How do we determine these people’s influence?
And why does it matter that we assemble this
list, you may ask. One yardstick we used was to
emphasise that influence is not about
popularity and popularity is not always
influential.
The influencer’s impact on public, social and
political discourse, however, is what largely
helps us determine their influence. Over the
next few pages, you will find a breadth and
wealth of Africans of all nationalities and ages,
both women and men, whose actions and
reach, we have determined, significantly
impacted and realigned the continent’s
landscape in their fields of endeavour. They
contributed in redefining the African narrative
in 2013 and we feel they will play a big role in
2014 - hopefully, for Africa’s good.
Idris Elba, Actor - Sierra Leone/Ghana
A much sought-after film and television actor,
Elba was born in London to a Sierra Leonean
father and Ghanaian mother. He has taken
both Hollywood and TV acting by storm, in hits
such as The Wire and Luther . But film critics
believe his lead character in the recently
released the film adaption of Nelson Mandela’s
autobiography Long Walk To Freedom, – which
has already been awarded the British Academy
of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Los Angeles
Britannia Humanitarian Award – could be the-
game changing role of his career.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie , Author - Nigeria
Adichie is unstoppable. 2013 has been yet
another good year for this daughter of Nigerian
soil with two major accomplishments to file
under her name: the release, to
unprecedented acclaim, of her much
anticipated novel Americanah and the release
of the movie adaptation of her novel Half of a
Yellow Sun , starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and
Thandie Newton. Yes, it has been a good year,
but Adichie does not look like a lady who will
be slowing down in 2014. As someone who is
not afraaid to confront the difficult subjects of
race, gender and politics, and is a proud
African, who continues to campaign against the
one-story narrative about Africa, we can't wait
to see what she will do next.
Alek Wek , Supermodel - South Sudan
The influential fashion magazine I:D has
dubbed her “Model of the Decade”. The US’s
People magazine listed her as one of the “50
Most Beautiful People”. But the Sudanese
model’s influence extends far beyond the
fashion world and societal concepts of beauty.
As a former refugee, Alek knows what it is like
to be forced to flee one’s home. Hence, she is
a passionate advocate for refugee rights. She is
a world- acclaimed role model who transcends
her industry.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Actor - Nigeria/UK
Chiwetel Ejiofor has the lead role in two of
2013’s biggest films – 12 Years A Slave, directed
by Steve McQueen, and the film adaptation of
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-winning
novel, Half of A Yellow Sun, directed by Biyi
Bandele. His portrayal of former South African
president Thabo Mbeki in the new Channel 4
drama Endgame was also another stellar
performance. Prior to the theatre release of
both films, Ejiofor won critical acclaim for his
portrayal of Patrice Lumumba in A Season in
The Congo, a theatre production about the first
democratically elected leader of the DRCongo at
The Young Vic theatre in London. Born to
Nigerian parents in the UK, the award-winning
actor is garnering an Oscar buzz for his
mesmerising performance in 12 Years A Slave.
The roles he has taken on this year prove once
again what an African A-list, Oscar-deserving
actor he is. Will 2014 be his year?
David Adjaye , Architect - Ghana/UK
David Adjaye is a Ghanaian-British whose
architectural firm won the contract to design
and build the US Smithsonian National Museum
of African-American History and Culture in
Washington DC, which is due to be unveiled in
two years. Adjaye admits this is one of the
most important commissions of his career. At
the young age of 45, he has accomplished what
most in his career can only dream of. His firm
has also been shortlisted in a competition to
build the National Holocaust Monument in
Ottawa. Adjaye is one of a handful of African
architects with global renown, transcending his
profession to become a global commentator on
architecture, design and politics.
DJ Sbu , Producer - South Africa
Sbusiso Leope, popularly known as DJ Sbu, is
not only a media personality and businessman
but through his music and his engagement with
the South African youth he has become a cult
figure and is considered an epitome of South
African popular culture. Despite his harsh
upbringing in the deprived township of
Tembisa, he has overcome his obstacles and is
today helping shape positive youth culture. He
hosts the Sound Revival show on Metro radio
and appears on the most popular TV game
show in the country – Friends Like These. He
co-owns the record label TS Records with TK
Nciza, and the current South African premier
music sensation Zahara is signed to their label.
Sbu has truly inspired many, particularly the
youth this past year. He gives three talks a
week to disadvantaged schools around South
Africa and helps offer bursaries and
mentorship.
Don Jazzy , Music Producer - Nigeria
One cannot talk about contemporary Nigerian
music without a mention of Don Jazzy,
described as Africa’s number one beat maker.
Founder and CEO of Mavin Records, Michael
Collins Ajereh, 31, is better known as Don Jazzy
and is an award-winning record producer and
singer-songwriter. Before he set up Mavin
Records, he was head to Mo’ Hit Records, which
at its height was home to some of Nigeria’s
most successful artists, like D’Banj. He has
produced hit songs for some of the biggest
names in Nigeria’s music industry including;
D’Banj, Tiwa Savage, Dr SID and Wande Coal.
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe , Fashion - South
Africa
A businesswoman and humanitarian, Dr
Precious Moloi-Motsepe has redefined the
African fashion landscape with the yearly
showcases produced by African Fashion
International (AFI), the company behind
Mercedes-Benz fashion weeks in South Africa. A
medical doctor by profession and a fashion
connoisseur by passion, she transitioned into
the fashion world when she realised that the
fashion and clothing industry can play an
important role in entrepreneurship. She has
since gone on to place the African fashion
industry on a global platform through AFI. She
also heads the Motsepe Family Foundation,
which focuses on projects that positively impact
on people’s health, education and the nurturing
of young talent.
El Anatsui, Artist - Ghana
He is revered by critics and art lovers on both
sides of the Atlantic, and an inspiration to a
young generation of African artists. El Anatsui is
one of the most exciting contemporary visual
artists on the international art scene today. His
work transcends boundaries and he has
received widespread international acclaim for
his sculptural experiments. His iconic “bottle-
top installations” have provoked international
attention with institutions queuing up to
acquire these monumental work for their art
space. Over time, his work, which is mostly
compromised of large external installations, has
been installed and exhibited in some of the
world’s most prestigious art institutions.
Lupita Nyong'o , Actress - Kenya
Lupita Nyong’o’s breakout role as Patsey – a
brutally abused plantation worker – in 12 Years
A Slave, has earned her an Oscar buzz for her
first feature film. She recently won the New
Hollywood Award at the annual Hollywod Film
Awards. Prior to 12 Years A Slave, she starred
in the ground-breaking MTV Base series Shuga ,
about “the lives of sexually active young
Kenyans [which] highlights the risks associated
with unprotected sex” and the impact of HIV/
Aids. Her role as Ayira catapulted Nyong’o to
the attention of audiences in Kenya, and across
Africa.
Omar Sy , Actor - Senegal
Omar Sy, half Senegalese and half Mauritian,
has been described as France's first black
superstar, making waves by starring in the
highly acclaimed and highest grossing French
film in decades, The Intouchables . He received
the Caesar Award, the French equivalent of an
Oscar, for the role. This has catapulted Sy to
global recognition and he will feature in the
upcoming X-Men - Days of Future Past movie.
2014 looks good for this young, gifted and
African talent.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde , Actress - Nigeria
To her global fans, Nollywood actress Omotola
Jalade Ekeinde embodies true African beauty
beyond measure. But there is more to the
Nigerian sex bomb popular known as Omosexy.
The gorgeous actress and mother of four’s
meteoric rise in 2013 – a year which saw her
become the first African celebrity to reach 1
million likes on Facebook, and named as one of
the most influential people in the world by
Time magazine for their annual Time 100 list.
Her debut reality show, Omotola: The Real Me,
made headlines as the most popular TV series
across Africa. But that was not all! It fixated
her millions of fans, revealing fascinating
insights into one of Africa’s most recognised
faces. She is also increasingly becoming a social
activist in her own right, although a vocal critic
of the current African political dispensation.
Despite her popularity, she has no political
ambitions. Yet.
P Square , Musicians Nigeria
Peter and Paul Okoyo have defined and set a
benchmark for a new generation of Nigerian
and African artists to follow with their energetic
and infectious sound. According to the MTV
Africa Website, their music is “Afrocentric in
that it combines western and African rhythms
in creating a marvellous blend of R&B, Hip Hop
and Dancehall songs.” Hit after hit, the twin
brothers have become apt at giving audiences
songs that cut across age, gender and
geographical boundaries. They are arguably
Nigeria’s biggest musical export in the last few
years, and have collaborated with some of the
world’s biggest hip-hop artists, like Akon.
Trevor Noah , Comedian - South Africa
Trevor Noah grew up in Soweto, and has used
his life experiences to build a career as a
comedian of note, possibly being Africa’s most
internationally popular comedian. Noah started
working on stage and television in South Africa,
but has since spread his wings, selling out tours
in Europe and the US.
Fatoumata Diawaraa , Musician - Mali
The multi-talented Malian singer-songwriter is
truly a non-conformist; she defied tradition and
escaped Mali as a teenager when under
pressure from her family to get married. Today,
Diawara is using her music to expose the
cultural prejudices faced by women across
Africa and the world. Her self-titled debut
album, Fatou was released to international
acclaim. She has toured Europe and the US and
earlier this year organised renowned musicians
across Mali to do a Peace song for the nation
during the days it was under threat from
militants.
NoViolet Bulawayo , Author - Zimbabwe
NoViolet Bulawayo won the Caine Prize for
African writing in 2012, and this year has been
shortlisted for the coveted Man Booker Prize for
her novel We Need New Names. This makes her
the first black African woman and the first
Zimbabwean to be accorded this honour. With
accolades from far and wide for the beautifully
written We Need New Names , not only will she
continue to play an important role in African
writing, there is no doubt that a new star of
African female writing is truly born. The one-to-
watch.
