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.

The Nigerian rapper, actor and songwriter in his delivery of his own version of the track ensured that the video was modified for the Nigerian audience in a way that was unmatched. With Nigerian dance moves and settings that mirrored the on-going situations in the country, he may have just set a precedent for music to not only be delivered as a form of entertainment but, as a medium of expressing social ills that plague the society. It was very well articulated and artistically executed, although many argue that we might have Gambino to thank for the latter.

We couldn’t help but notice that in the satirical video, Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s likeness was also used from clothing style to mannerisms, to the video’s overall essence. Merely observing unabashed way in which the star spoke brazenly of the country’s ills, one can’t help but think of Nigeria’s Fela. Anikulapo-Kuti was most prominent for using his platform to speak out against corruption within the country. He was also recognised worldwide for his work as an activist. Similar to Fela’s life’s mission, this video served to achieve the same objective. That wasn’t the only parallel that could be drawn from the two musicians however, as we couldn’t ignore Falz’s outfit in the video, which was also reminiscent of the kalakuta king’s signature style: Shirtless with Ankara cigarette pants.

The music video not only tackles pressing issues such as the unrest in the North with the insurgence of Boko Haram and the Fulani Herdsmen; Falana takes on other socio-economic issues such as the rising epidemic of Internet Fraud among some of the country’s youth popularly known as ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’ after the popular email host; drug (codeine) addiction, fixation on materialism, corruption within the government, religious hypocrisy, lack of constant electricity and pastors exploiting the vulnerability of their congregation for their own pockets- a resounding theme throughout the track as, he ends off with a speech in which pastors are being called out for opening schools a large majority of their members can’t afford to attend.

With hard hitting lyrics such as:

Police station dey close by 6, security reason oh…. Pastor put his hand on the breast of a woman, he’s pulling the demons out.

He boldly ends off the video with the bold line ‘Everybody be criminal’.

That we were stunned at the release of the video might be a subject of concern. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by the rapper’s own form activism as not only is he born to activist parents, Femi Falana and his mother, Funmi Falana, is also a renowned women’s rights activist. Folarin is also a lawyer who was admitted to the Nigerian bar in 2012.

Furthermore,  celebrities using their platform for the greater good should not be a foreign concept; it’s an occurence that we ought to have grown accustomed to. That it isn’t, means that there is work to be done in this regard.

Instead of productive conversations about the societal ills raised in the video, it is of great concern that many commenters online are only discussing parallels between Falz and Gambino’s rendition with many Nigerians deeming Falz to be a copy cat. This only reinforces the themes treated in the video and is a reminder that we need to focus less on aesthetics and more on pressing issues such as those discussed in ‘This is Nigeria’.

For me, seeing a visual representation of a mash up of some of our problems as a society was very aggravating and distinctly worrisome. That we are on a decline both socially and economically is cause for panic and should arouse public attention and action. That it isn’t, is even more unsettling.

American hip-hop superstar and multimillionaire, Sean Combs, alias P Diddy was so taken with Falz’ cover of the Gambino track that he reposted it twice on his Instagram writing:

Sending love to Nigeria. So many great, beautiful artists changing the game!!!! @falzthebahdguy

Despite mixed reactions, it is particularly exciting to see a new wave of what we can only hope is an increase in consciousness amongst the Nigerian youth and a public outcry for change.

Could this be a trend that sticks amongst entertainers in the industry? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Until then, we ‘ll take what we’re being given, hopefully, this doesn’t take on a figurative meaning.

This is Nigeria’ was produced by Wande Thomas and the video was directed by Prodigeezy.

Cinematographer: Tayo Aina

More of this, please!