In no particular order, meet the celebrities who constantly leave us spell bound.
1.Koffi Olomide, Congolese, Musician
Olomide
possesses a first degree in Business Economics and reportedly has a
Master’s Degree in mathematics from the University of Paris, but he
found mainstream fame and considerable fortune playing music. Olomide is
one of the more famous performers of soukous an extremely popular genre
of African music which intermixes vigorous gyrations with finger-style
guitar of Rhumba and African melodies.
2.Youssou N’dour, Senegalese, Musician
In
2004, the Rolling Stone Magazine referred to the Senegal’s most coveted
musician as “perhaps the most famous singer alive”. That’s highly
unlikely, particularly in a contemporary music scenery dominated by the
likes of Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Justin Bieber. But N’dour, 59, is
arguably Africa’s most electrifying and mesmerizing entertainer.
3. Didier Drogba, Ivorian, Soccer Player
Description: A striker for England’s Chelsea football club and
captain of the Cote D’Ivoire national team, Drogba’s dexterous strength
and fitness on the pitch has consistently earned him administration of
adoring fans across the globe. But it is his transcendent compassion
that has endeared him to both soccer aficionados and the unintended.
After his country had qualified for the World Cup in Germany, Drogba,
surrounded by his team mates, famously fell to his knees on live
television and urged the warring factions to give up their arms. It
worked.
4. Angelique Kidjo, Beninioise, Musician
Description: At 51, the Beniniose Grammy-award winning musician
is still one of Africa’s greatest divas. Over the course of her career
she has collaborated with Alicia Keys, Josh Groban and Carlos Santana
amongst others on tours and album recordings. The UNICEF Goodwill
ambassador is also the founder of the Batonga Foundation, a
Washington-based charity which promotes and funds education for African
girls. Passionate advocate for African women’s rights
5. Akon, Senegalese, Musician
Description: The Senegalese-American hip-hop act stepped into the
limelight in 2004 with the release of “Looked Up”, his first single
from his debut album Trouble. Success has been meteoric ever since. He
has gone on to produce 3 successful studio albums which have sold
millions across the world. He co-owns Kon Live, an Interscope-backed
record label which helped jumpstart the career of Lady Gaga and T-Pain.
6. Wole Soyinka, Nigerian, Playwright
Description: In 1986 the Nigerian Palywright and author became
the first African to win the Nobel Prize in literature. Easily the most
famous playwright ever to emerge from Africa, the erudite wordsmith has
published over 20 plays including The Lion and the Jewel, A dance of the
Forests and the Strong Breed.
7. Salif Keita, Malian, Musician
Description: A direct descendant of Sundiata Keita, the founder
of the Malii Empire, Salif is one of the pioneers of Afro-pop. As a
member of a Malian Noble family, Keita was famously rebuked when he set
out to become a musician as it was considered an occupation beneath his
status. At 18, he was banished from his village because of a
superstitious belief that albinos brought ill fortune. He went to play
for Les Ambassadeurs, a Malian music group before striking out on his
own.
8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, South African, Musician
Description: The ‘Princess of Africa’ is one of Africa’s most
illustrious musicians. Debuted on the stage at the age of 18; rose to
fame at the height of South Africa’s Apartheid regime with infectious
pop melodies, sonorous voice and girlish charm. She gained local and
international acclaim with popular songs like ”I’m in Love with a DJ”
and “I cry for freedom.” She now devotes her time to philanthropy as a
United Nations Goodwill ambassador and UN envoy for Africa.
9. Oumou Sangare, Milian, Musician
Description: One of Mali’s most idolized musical legends, Sangare
popularized Wassoulou, a popular genre of traditional instruments like
the Djembe drum and the Kora (a traditional African harp). Her lyrics
dwell on women right issues and feminism. Sangare, a United Nations
goodwill ambassador has been vocal in her advocacy against polygamy; was
named an afficial ambassador of the Food and Agricultural Organisation
of the United Nations in 2003.
10. Femi Kuti, Nigerian, Musician
Description: The eldest son of Afrobeat legend Fela
Anikulapo-Kuti has his father’s bllod flowing through his veins. He has
toured and performed extensively with his father while he was alive, but
his biggest break came with his father’s death in 1999 when the
Afrobeat mantle fell on him. Just like his father, Femi attempts to use
his music to combat corruption, poverty and other socio-economic issues
prevalent in Nigeria and Africa through his lyrics.
11. Haile Gebrselassie, Ethipian, Athlete
Description: The world’s number 1 distance runner has won the
Berlin Marathon four times consecutively. He has also won the Great
Manchester run in England for four times, and boasts of 2 Olympic Gold
medals for 10,000 metre races.
12. Samuel Eto’o, Cameroonian, Soccer Player
Description: In August, the Cameroonian striker left Inter Milan
to pitch tent with Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala in a deal that has
earned him the title of not just the highest earning footballer in the
world, but the highest-paid athlete in professional sports. Estimated
salary: $29 million per season.
13. Genevieve Nnaji, Nigerian, Actress
Description: Nnaji has frequently been hailed as Africa’s own
answer to the likes of Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and the rest of
the feminine Hollywood stars. She started out in her acting career over
24 years ago, at the age of 8, playing a supporting role in a Nigerian
TV series. Today, she is arguably Africa’s most revered actress and the
poster girl for Nollywood-Nigeria’s burgeoning movie industry.
14. Hugh Masekela, South African, Musician
Description: The 72 year-old South African Jazz maestro and
internationally-acclaimed trumpeter shows no signs of slowing down. He
started out playing the Trumpet at the age of 14; used his music to
protest against apartheid, slavery and socio-economic exploration. In
2004 he published his autobiography: Still Grazing: The Musical Journey
of Hugh Masekela.
15. K’Naan, Somali, Rapper
Description: At the age of 13, K’naan left his homeland of
Somalis in the heat of a civil war. With his family, escapsed to New
York, and later to Ontario, Canada where he joined a thriving Somali
community and started rapping. In 2006 he releases his debut album “The
Dusty Foot Philosopher to modest success.
16. Amadou and Mariam, Malian, Musicians
Description: The visually-impaired wonder couple met at the
Institute for the Blind in Bamako, Mali in 1977. Both discovered their
love for music and started recording together; married in 1980. The
couple is generally considered as pioneers of Afro-blues, a distant
genre of music which fuses traditional Malian sounds and music with
foreign instruments like rock guitars, Syrian violins and Cuban
trumpets.
17. Awilo longomba, Congolese, Musician
Description: The Congoleses musician is one of the most notable
proponents of the Soukous music genre which has gained an increasing
international acceptance not only in Africa, but the rest of the world.
Longomba started out as a drummer, but quit in 1995 to pursue his first
love, music.
18. Asa, Nigerian, Musician
Description: Real name: Bukola Elemide. The Nigerian
singer-songwriter is one of the most popular new-generation artists to
emerge from Africa. She releases her sophomore album ‘Beautiful
Imperfection’ last year to immense critical acclaim. The Paris-based
artist is renowned for her fusion of contemporary Jazz sound, pop and
reggae with Yoruba melodies.
19. D’Banj, Nigerian, Musician
Description: Don Jazzy’s protégé is one of Africa’s most
recognizable new generation artists. He has sold over 3 million albums
worldwide over the last six years and signed a record deal with Kanye
West’s Good Music earlier this year. The Nigerian crooner and Harmonica
player is also one of the savviest entrepreneurs in Africa’s music
industry.
20. Don Jazzy, Nigerian, Music Producer
Description: Africa’s Number 1 beat maker heads the phenomenal
Nigerian record label, Mo’Hits which is home to successful Nigerians
artist like D’Banj and Wande Coal. The venerable music producer and
occasional singer is also the undisputed King of Social media in
Nigeria. Boasts over 130,000 followers on Twitter.
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