Forbes Africa has released its fourth edition of the 30 under 30 list, and some of the continent’s most accomplished young artists, entrepreneurs and tech stars made the cut.
The publication describes this year’s list as its most comprehensive yet, writing:
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 of 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.
Honorees include a range of talented young creatives like Nigerian afrobeats stars Wizkid, Davido, Falz, and Yemi Alade, South African rappers Cassper Nyovest and Nasty C, South African visual artist Tony Gum and actress Nomzamo Mbatha, Ghanaian rapper Sardokie, Angolan supermodel Maria Borges, and many more.
The technology and business categories also boast a number of burgeoning stars, Yannick Nzonde of the DRC who is the co-founder of management consulting agency ATI Groupe, Uganda’s Kevin Lubega the founder of EzeeMoney, and June Syowia of Kenya, founder of Beiless Group, just to name a few.
Check out the full list of 2018 honorees below.
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
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
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.
