Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 is an annual list compiled by Forbes Africa, and it features individuals that the publication deems to be some of the most ingenious innovators in industries such as Business, Technology and Creative who are all under 30. They are selected from all African countries from a list of over a million applicants- so it is quite the achievement for anyone who lands on the list.
We were particularly thrilled to see a couple of names we recognised ranging from music stars such as Wizkid who has had an exceptional year especially after selling out London’s 20,000 seater, o2 Arena, to media mavens like Aso Ebi Bella‘s Ink Eze.
A huge congratulations to all who made the list and a great inspiration to keep on grinding. It’s great to see that Africa is on to something HUGE.
Speaking on this year’s list, Forbes Africa states:
The 2018 FORBES AFRICA Under 30 is our authentic and most definitive list of Africa’s most promising young change-makers. This year is our fourth edition of the list and for the first time, inspired by the growing number of young men and women entrepreneurs, we have expanded it to bring you 30 game-changers, all under the age of 30, in each the three sectors – business, technology and creative. The 90 in total are challenging conventions and rewriting the rules for the next generation of entrepreneurs, creatives and tech gurus.
We put in months of rigorous research, sifting through over 600 nominations, vetting them for weeks, verifying and investigating them. We favored entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and took into account their business size, revenue, location, potential, struggles, social impact and resilience. A panel of judges then debated the final 90. You may not know many of their names now and they may not be richest people in Africa, but they could be the billionaires of tomorrow gracing our future covers. This compilation is exciting, inspiring and offers a sneak peek into Africa’s future. Meet the class of 2018. The list is in no particular order.
See the full Forbes 30 Under 30 list below:
Business
Yannick Nzonde, 29, DRC
Co-founder ATI Groupe
Leroy Mwasaru, 20, Kenya
Founder, Greenpact
Ladipo Lawani, 29, Nigeria
Founder, L&L Foods
Emmanuel Ademola Ayilara, 29, Nigeria
Founder, LanaWey Investment Limited
Mwiya Musokotwane, 28, Zambia
Founder, Thebe Investment Management
Nomvula Mhambi, 29, Zimbabwe
Founder, Disruptive Innovation
Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Falalu, 28, Nigeria
Founder, FalGates
Roger Boniface, 29, South Africa
Founder, EDISIM
Gilbert Eugene Peters, 29, Zimbabwe
Founder, Spidex Media
Sihle Ndlela, 28, South Africa
Co-founder, Majozi Bros Construction
Vera Shaba, 29, South Africa
Founder, Shaba and Rampling; Green Building Solutions
Thomas Duncan, 28, Namiba
Owner, Anticor
Wesley Beneke, 29, South Africa
Founder, WCB Construction
Anita Adetola Adetoye, 26, Nigeria
Founder, Anita Brows Beauty
Akinwande Durojaye, 28, Nigeria
Founder, JustBrandIt; FixMyRide. Co-founder, FueledUp; LashBells
Samuelle Dimairho, 27, Zimbabwe
Co-founder, Chengetedzai Depository Company
Joey Friedman, 26, South Africa
Founder, LA Group of Companies
Zuko Tisani, 25, South Africa
Founder, Legazy Technology Conferencing
Gisela van Houcke, 27, DRC
Founder, Zuri Luxury Hair&Beauty
Bidemi Zakariyau, 28, Nigeria
Founder, LSF|PR
Zareef Minty, 24, South Africa
Founder, ZRF Holdings
Fred Apaloo, 28, Ghana
Founder, Villa Grace
Kene Rapu, 28, Nigeria
Founder, Kene Rapu
Jack Mthembu, 27, South Africa
Founder, First One Adventures
Reabetswe Ngwane, 25, South Africa
Co-founder, KreamFields
Anelisa Mntuyedwa, 28, South Africa
Founder, Gilbert Civils
Gozie Coker, 29, Nigeria
Founder, Coker Creative
Alexander Knieps, 27, South Africa
Founder, Printulu
Adam Amoussou, 27, Benin
Founder, Amosconsult Group
Nataliey Bitature, 28, Uganda
Co-founder, Musana Carts
Technology
Rivo Mhiari, 23, South Africa
Founder, Rikatec
Olaoluwa Samuel-Biyi, 27, Nigeria
Co-founder, SureGifts. Director, SureRemit
Isaya Yunge, 28, Tanzania
Founder, SomaApps Technologies Company Limited
Mahmood Oyewo, 26, Nigeria
Co-founder, RubiQube
Kevin Lubega, 28, Uganda
Founder, EzeeMoney
Berno Potgieter & Thatoyaona Marumo, 28, South Africa
Founders, Domestly
Leonida Mutuku, 29, Kenya
Founder, Intelipro
Chris Kwekowe, 25, & Emerald Kwekowe, 21, Nigeria
Founders, Slatecube
Phiwa Nkambule, 26, Swaziland
Co-founder, Riovic
Sunkanmi Ola, 22, Nigeria
Founder, Syracuse Digital
Perseus Mlambo, 29, Zambia
Founder, Zazu Africa Limited
Kola Olajide, 26, Nigeria
Co-founder, Bridge Labs
Nneile Nkholise, 29, South Africa
Founder, iMed Tech
Bamal Namata, 26, Cameroon
Founder, Maibeta
Riaz Moola, 26, South Africa
Founder, HyperionDev
Leonard Stiegeler, 29, Nigeria.
Co-founder, Zanda, Jumia & Director Ringer Africa AG.
Kofi Genfi & Nii Osae Osae Dade, 24, Ghana.
Founders, CYST Company Limited.
Juan Pienaar, 27, South Africa.
Founder, Apex Media.
Timothy Adeleye, 29, Nigeria.
Founder, Optiweb Communications.
Maya Horgan Famodu, 27, Nigeria.
Founder, Ingressive.
Abraham Omani Quaye, 28, Ghana.
Founder, Farmart.
Melvyn Lubega, 28, South Africa.
Founder, GO1.
Huston Malande, 28, Kenya.
Founder, Skyline Design.
Cukia Kimani, 26 & Ben Myres, 25, South Africa.
Founders, Nyamakop.
Ink Eze, 28, Nigeria. (YAY!! BN Alum!)
Founder, AsoEbiBella.
June Syowia, 23, Kenya.
Founder, Beiless Group.
Obinna Okwodu, 27, Nigeria.
Founder, Fibre.
Abdellah Mallek, 28, Algeria.
Co-founder, Sylabs.
Yasmine El Baggari, 25, Morocco.
Founder, Voyaj.
Simba Mubvuma, 26, Zimbabwe.
Co-founder, Lexware Inc.
Creatives
Thuso Mbedu, 26, South Africa.
Actress.
Maria Borges, 25, Angola.
Supermodel.
Herieth Paul, 22, Tanzania.
Supermodel.
Eddy Kamuanga Illunga, 26, DRC.
Painter.
Cassper Nyovest, 27, South Africa.
Rapper & Entrepreneur.
Stacey Gillian Abe, 27, Uganda.
Multidisciplinary Contemporary Artist.
Yemi Alade, 29, Nigeria.
Singer & Songwriter.
Falz, 27, Nigeria.
Rapper & Actor.
Orapeleng Moodutle, 29, South Africa.
Fashion Designer.
Nomzamo Mbatha, 27, South Africa.
Actress.
Kwesta, 29, South Africa.
Rapper & Entrepreneur.
Davido, 25, Nigeria.
Singer & Songwriter.
Safia Elhillo, 27, Sudan.
Author & Poet.
Joyce Jacob, 28, Nigeria.
Founder: Joyce Jacob Beauty.
Shekhinah, 23, South Africa.
Singer & Songwriter.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal, 28, Nigeria.
Fashion Designer. Founder: Orange Culture.
Wizkid, 27, Nigeria.
Singer & Songwriter.
Koleka Putuma, 25, South Africa.
Poet & Author.
Nasty C, 21, South Africa.
Rapper & Producer.
Beverly Naya, 29, Nigeria.
Actress & Entrepreneur.
Simphiwe, 27, South Africa.
Visual Artist.
Rina Chunga-Kutama, 29, South Africa.
Fashion Designer.
Kemiyondo Coutinho, 28, Uganda.
Playwright, Actress, Filmmaker & Entrepreneur.
Sarkodie, 29, Ghana.
Rapper & Entrepreneur.
Mapeseka Koetie-Nyokong, 29, South Africa.
Actress & Entrepreneur.
Sonia Irabor, 28, Nigeria.
Writer, Filmmaker & Actress.
Tony Gum, 22, South Africa.
Visual Artist.
ANATII, 25, South Africa.
Producer, Writer, Director & Artiste.
Sasha Pieterse, 22, South Africa.
Actress & Singer/Songwriter.
Tania Omotayo, 26, Nigeria.
Model & Entrepreneur.
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