#30Under30: Sport Category 2019 – Forbes Africa
#30Under30: Sport Category 2019 Forbes Africa
This year marks the fifth milestone annual FORBES AFRICA 30 under 30 list, and we have introduced a new category of game-changers. Together, they are 120 …
This year marks the fifth milestone annual FORBES AFRICA 30
under 30 list, and we have introduced a new category of game-changers.
Together, they are 120 in total across four sectors: business, technology,
creatives and sport. Meet the class of 2019, a stellar collection of
entrepreneurs and innovators rewriting rules and taking bold new risks to take
Africa to the future.
The list is in no particular order:
1. Karabo Poppy Moletsane, 27, South Africa
Creative Illustrator, Street Artist and Graphic Designer
Not only is
Karabo Poppy Moletsane an artist aiming for the skies, but you can see some of
her work from there too.
In the Zoo
Lake public park in Johannesburg, two basketball courts are adorned with her
creativity.
From a
bird’s eye-view, you can see one in blue with a crocodile on it and another in
turquoise with a cheetah on it.
Together
with another local artist, they designed the courts in collaboration with Nike.
Moletsane
is also responsible for tagging the famous landmark in Soweto, the Soweto Towers, which can be seen miles
away and has become a source of kasi (township) pride.
Moletsane’s
goal has been to put black female illustrators on the map.
In 2015,
she turned her passion for art into a business and founded Mother
Tongue-Creative House which is now trading under her own name, Karabo Poppy.
“This was a
five-year journey that started with me only having one month of work
experience, living with family and friends, and chartering my own course
without scripts for success,” she tells FORBES AFRICA.
She has won
three Loerie Awards over the course of her career, and her work has been
recognized as part of a Grammy-nominated music video Makeba, by French
singer and artist, Jain.
Poppy was
also the first black female artist to paint the Art Wall in the Berkeley Art
Museum and Pacific Film Archive in California.
For
international woman’s day in March 2018, she was also the artist behind the
sequential Google doodle.
Her
contribution to the world has been contemporary African aesthetics and she
continues to do so.
2. Rophnan Nuri, 29, Ethiopia
Electronic Dance Music Artist
At the age
of 10, Rophnan Nuri released his first mixtape, singing and playing the drums
with his classmates, and he has not stopped moving to his own beat since.
He
self-funded his career with the money he made as a club DJ and over the years,
he learned the technical side of music and produced his own distinct sound.
“I was
always fascinated by the fusion of different instruments and voices, and
created a unique niche for myself by amalgamating traditional Ethiopian sounds
from the past with futurist electronic music,” he says.
Nuri’s
talent also saw him being one of the three African DJs chosen by South African
DJ, Black Coffee, to perform in Ibiza Spain in 2017.
In 2018, he
received awards in three categories at the 2018 Leza Awards in Ethiopia.
In the same
year, he featured on a song titled Get To Work by Major Lazer, a popular
American electronic dance music trio.
Despite his
global impact, Nuri says he will always stay true to his Ethiopian roots, one
of the reasons why he is most loved by his fellow Ethiopians.
“Getting
recognition and support in my home country is unparalleled. My ability to
engineer traditional instruments and merge them with popular sounds has earned
me incredible support in the form of sold-out performances,” he says,
He
continues to share his love for music through the Ethiopian DJ Association,
nurturing up-and-coming talent.
3. Henry Amponsah, 27, Ghana
Designer, Founder and CEO: 101 Clothing
Henry
Amponsah knew he was going to be a designer from a young age.
“I remember
when I told my mum I wanted to be a designer in the future, she angrily said,
‘what will be the use of gaining education only to be sitting in a container
sewing clothes for chicken change?’ That got me laughing out loud and I said to
myself ‘I will prove this lady wrong in the future’,” he tells FORBES AFRICA.
And
Amponsah did just that.
While in
high school, he and four friends had a photoshoot with outfits that cost $150
and they posted the photos on social media.
“The
collection went viral and clients started talking to me,” Amponsah says.
The
recognition pushed him to officially start his business, 101 Clothing, in 2014,
and the rest was a stitch in time.
Today,
Amponsah has dressed Samira Bawumia, the wife of Ghana’s Vice President. He
also runs a foundation that helps with basic school equipment and workshops.
To date, he
has received over 10 local and international awards and featured in many
magazines including British Vogue magazine.
In the end,
Amponsah managed to fulfil his dream and that of his mom’s; he built his
fashion house and his now gunning for a PhD.
4. Austin Malema, 28, South Africa
Photographer and CEO: Pixel Kollective
While some
opt to invest in shares or property, Austin Malema opted to invest in memories
and everything clicked into place.
Instead of
celebrating his 21st birthday with a party, he used the money to buy his first
camera, which cost R18,000 ($1,200).
He began
shooting at events, which led to more bookings and he realized that the lens
gave him greater access to musicians,
actors and prominent people.
Since then,
Malema has photographed for many brands globally and for events such as the
South African Music Awards, the South African Film and Television Awards and
the Global Citizen Festival.
His work
has also led to him photographing popular musicians such as Drake, Joey BadA$$,
AKA, Casper Nyovest, Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
In 2018,
when FORBES AFRICA 2018 30 Under 30 alumni, Thuso Mbedu, was nominated for an
International Emmy, he was her official photographer in New York.
Apart from
his exposure, Malema has turned his passion for photography into a business.
Last year,
he founded his first company, Pixel Kollective, with his two partners, Kelly
Leuuw and Sivuyile Matsiliza.
“My biggest
dream is for the company to represent young black photographers around South
Africa,” he tells FORBES AFRICA.
5. Harmony Katulondi, 29, Democratic
Republic of the
Congo
Presenter, Model, Actor and Voice Over Artist
Harmony
Katulondi is a jack of all trades, and definitely a name to remember.
The
Democratic Republic of the Congo-born presenter first fell in love with acting
and presenting when he moved to South Africa as a toddler.
“I remember
going over lines with my parents and stepping into new worlds every time I got
on to the stage. I loved the smiles, joy and awe it brought into people’s eyes
when they saw me,” he says.
However,
when he was in university, it was nothing close to that feeling.
One day,
while studying, a friend told him of a casting gig where they needed tall
people.
He applied
and it turned out to be African Fashion
International.
“I got
there, walked, and they loved it, but I needed an agent. They told me to go
upstairs and I signed with my current agency and so the casting life began.
Commercial here, fashion week and catalogues there. That lead to TV shows,
stints on Generations: The Legacy, and Skeem Saam,” he tells
FORBES AFRICA.
However,
there was one goal he aimed to achieve; being a Top Billing presenter.
Katulondi auditioned for the Top Billing presenter search three times
and didn’t make it.
Disappointed,
this prompted him to start his own company in 2016, Harmony Katulondi Pty Ltd,
a creative consultancy company.
Two years
later, the presenter search came around again but Katulondi was not eager until
his friends pushed him to.
In the end,
Katulondi got the part. His talent saw him doing voice-overs for the Black
Panther movie campaign. He is also the founder of a non-profit called Just
Love to help those in need by doing outreaches such as feeding schemes,
fundraising, skills development and environmental clean-ups.
6. Kapasa Musonda, 29, Zambia
Fashion Designer
In 2011,
Kapasa Musonda returned to a non-existent fashion industry in her home country,
Zambia, after living in the US for six years.
She had
just obtained her Associate of Arts Advanced Study degree with a Magna Cum
Laude, but had nowhere to use it.
“I had no
choice but to open my own design business if I was to survive and make a living
at what I knew best,” she says.
This
birthed her business and fashion house, Mangishi Doll, that same year.
It is a
Zambian ‘Afro-Eclectic’ clothing brand inspired by bold prints and an artistic
expression of design and style.
Along the
way, Musonda has made enough money to hire two permanent tailors and train five
women in advanced fashion design.
In 2017,
her garments were retailing at a boutique in Los Angeles and that caught the
eyes of many US celebrities.
Among them
was iconic actor Angela Bassett, who wore her garments to the American Black
Film Festival Honours in Hollywood.
“We were
elated and honored and after Angela Bassett wore our piece, we had the biggest
growth spurt we had ever experienced,” she says.
It was not
long before the BET Awards 2018 invited her for an exclusive fashion event
where she presented a 24-piece collection.
From a
three-year-old armed with a sewing machine, to taking on the world with couture
and elegance, Musonda continues to put African print on the map.
7. Richard Akuson, 26, Nigeria
Founder and Editor: A Nasty Boy
Richard
Akuson’s activism for LGBTQ+ and challenging gender norms resulted in him being
named one of the 40 most powerful people in Nigeria under the age of 40 in the
2017 YNaijaPower List.
He founded A
Nasty Boy, a magazine that is a fashion platform celebrating alternative
and creative ideas, forms of expression and lifestyles, particularly in the
LGBTQ+ community.
It was
named one of Vogue’s ‘What to Read This Fall’ in 2017.
“That’s
pretty radical, given the political climate and culture there,” Vogue said.
Akuson is a lawyer by profession, but dove into this creative activism after
experiencing a brutal homophobic attack.
He sought
asylum in the US and grew his platform into a global brand.
A Nasty
Boy has since created a safe space to have meaningful conversations for
people persecuted for being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
But Akuson
plans to take it a step further. “Through collaborations with American
institutions, I’d like to focus my time as a licensed American lawyer on
pro-LGBTQ+ rights policy advocacy in Africa,” he tells FORBES AFRICA.
He is
currently writing a memoir about his journey to the US and co-producing as well
as co-directing a documentary series about the lived experiences of African
asylum-seekers in the US.
8. Menzi Mcunu, 22, South Africa
Founder: Afrocentric Gentlemvn
Menzi Mcunu
is one of South Africa’s best-dressed young men, and he gets paid for it.
His notable
look is a well-tailored suit, tie, top hat and a swag oozing elegance and
grace.
Not bad for
a 22-year-old.
He has
graced the covers of, not one, but two magazines and his biggest highlight was
being part of GQ South Africa’s Best Dressed Men for 2017.
Internationally,
he has attended Milan Fashion Week in 2018 and has been featured on Vogue
Italia, GQ Russia and GQ Australia.
It all started
when he visited Mumbai, India, in 2013.
He was
inspired by the Indian culture and its attention to detail in fashion.
As a
result, he founded Afrocentric Gentlemvn, an African lifestyle brand that
merges European aesthetics and African elegance with suit measurement and
creative consultancy services.
“I knew
nothing about the technical side or production side of selling garments but I
wanted to depict suits differently. I didn’t want them to just be suits like
the ones I saw at many retailers but I wanted them to represent a lifestyle,”
he tells FORBES AFRICA.
Mcunu plans
to grow his platform, Afrocentric Gentlemvn, globally.
He has also
been interested in the development of African luxury and African fashion on the
continent.
9. Trevor Stuurman, 26, South Africa
Photographer and Creative Director
CNN describes Trevor Stuurman as a
cultural force, and indeed he has illustrated that.
Living up
to these titles, he has had the opportunity to document former US President,
Barack Obama, The Carters (Beyoncé and Jay Z) as well his mentor and someone he
considers a sister, Naomi Campbell.
He was born
and raised in the diamond city of Kimberley in South Africa’s Northern Cape.
After
studying film, he was drawn to a different medium of visual arts – photography.
As a
result, he became a self-taught photographer; in fact, one of South Africa’s
most sought-after photographers.
“The more I
leave home, the more I realize the power and currency that home has. And I
think that it makes me a better story-teller because I am able to find pieces
of home wherever I go and then create tangible products,” he says.
This
essence of belonging inspired him to host his first solo exhibition titled
Home, a love letter to the Himba women of Namibia, at the HAZARD Gallery in
Johannesburg.
He has
received recognition such as being on GQ South Africa’s Most Connected
and Most Influential Man list 2018, Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young
South Africans 2015, and Destiny Magazine’s Power of 40 List. Stuurman
is also a contributor to British Vogue.
He plans to
have his work live in museums and art galleries around the world and
ultimately, to cultivate a space for more young story-tellers on the continent
to share their lived African experiences through their own lenses.
10. Burna Boy, 28, Nigeria
Musician
Early this
year, Burna Boy took his Nigerian music fire to the US and ended up selling out
the iconic Apollo Theatre in New York City where previous African legends like
Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba and Black Coffee were once hosted.
He was also
one of the major artists to perform this year at Coachella, one of the world’s
biggest music and arts festival.
Born Damini
Ogulu, he is undoubtedly one of the hottest African recording artists right now
and a name to remember.
The
Afro-fusion singer and songwriter rose to fame after his lead single Like to
Party was released in 2012.
Since then,
he has moved to his own beat, releasing hit after hit each year.
Some of the
world’s favorites include Dangote, Ye, On the Low, Soke, and Hallelujah,
each reaching over three million views on YouTube.
Of the many
accolades, he has won Best Album of the Year, Best Pop Artist of the Year at
the Nigerian Entertainment Awards in 2015, and recently received four awards at
the Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.
His third
studio album Outside was hailed by Pulse Nigeria and Nigerian
Entertainment Today as the best Nigerian album of 2018.
11. Kim Jayde, 28, Zimbabwe
TV Presenter, Model and MC
It’s not
every day that one gets to meet the world’s biggest names such as Charlize
Theron, Naomi Campbell, Major Lazer, Ciara, Paris Hilton, Tyler Perry and
Trevor Noah.
But
Harare-born Kim Jayde has.
Since she
moved to South Africa, she has been landing major gigs, making her undoubtedly
one of Zimbabwe’s ‘it girls’ at the moment.
You may
have seen her on your screens on MTV Base Africa as a presenter, but she
has also worked with brands like Revlon, Coca-Cola, Ackermans, Accessorize
(London) and more.
“My story
of being discovered by MTV Africa on Instagram and then going on to become
the face of the channel is proof that anything is possible, with hard work,
dedication and passion,” she says.
Among the
many awards was the Media Personality of The Year at the 2018 Zimbabwe
Achievers Awards.
She was
also listed as one of the 40 Under 30 class of Emerging Zimbabwe Leaders by
Gumiguru and not to mention took home her first international award for Woman
in Media at the fifth annual Zimbabwe International Women’s Awards.
However,
when the cameras aren’t rolling, Jayde still uses her degree in social work
contributing to the Home of Hope For Girls; something she has always been
passionate about.
12. Petite Noir, 28, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Singer, Songwriter and Producer
From the
African soil to some of the world’s greatest stages, Petite Noir embodies a
modern African renaissance through his music and art.
He once
opened for American Grammy award-winning singer Solange Knowles while she was
on her 2013 US tour and performed at the South by Southwest festival in Texas.
In the 70s,
an Angolan woman and Congolese man fell in love.
But due to
the political instability in both countries, they fled to Belgium in search
of a new start.
That new
start birthed Yannick Ilunga, now popularly known as Petite Noir.
In 1993
they then moved to Cape Town where his love for music was awakened.
“I really
started to fall in love with music at the age of 15. It was something that I
automatically felt drawn to, so much so that I immersed myself in various music
projects as much as I could,” Noir tells FORBES AFRICA.
In 2012, he
released his first single Till We Ghosts, which caught the eye of a
music manager in the UK and wasting no time, Noir moved there.
The next
year was his big break.
He signed a
£80,000 ($103,305) deal and embarked on his first world tour, which spanned
Africa, the UK, Europe and America.
“I toured
with Solange and Foals [British rock band]; I played at festivals with line-ups
that included the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Angélique Kidjo and many more,” he
says.
Since then,
his career has been nothing short of greatness.
Together
with his wife, Rochelle ‘RhaRha’ Nembhard, he has been working on a charity
called the Noirwave foundation.
Noir is
currently working on his own festival called ‘No Borders’, a celebration of the
journey of immigrants through art and music.
Among some
of his accolades is the South African Music Award 2016 for Best Alternative
Album for La Vie Est Belle/Life is Beautiful.
The same
year, he also received recognition for the album artwork and the video Best exhibited
in the African art gallery at Harvard University.
With
Solange inviting him to play in the US and American musician Mos Def being one
of his advisors, Petite Noir is a name to remember and a wave to catch on to.
13. Aisha Baker, 29, South Africa
Businesswoman, Influencer and Style Icon
There are a
few names that have become synonymous with South Africa’s authority in the
digital beauty industry and Aisha Baker is one of them.
Baker
founded BakedOnline in 2009 when the blogging trend was fledgling in
South Africa.
“I loved
fashion, since I was introduced to Vogue Pattern books by my seamstress
grandmother; I also loved literature and writing. It was a natural progression
for me,” she tells FORBES AFRICA.
At the age
of 20, she began monetizing it.
“I had
accidentally formed a media company without knowing. Having one employee at the
time, my photographer Tegan Smith, who worked only for petrol money and great
images,” she says.
For one
year, Baker worked a nine-to-five job at an embroidery factory to fund her
business and would shoot content for her blog on weekends.
It was a
stressful time.
“I got
admitted to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack. Turns out it
was an ulcer caused by stress,” she says.
Ten years
later, her brand has since stayed relevant and picked up some awards along the
way.
She graced
the cover of the 2018 influencer issue of Cosmopolitan South Africa.
She has
worked with brands such as Estée Lauder, Mercedes-Benz, Cotton, Mac, Woolworths
and Microsoft to name a few.
Most
recently, she was awarded the E! Africa Social Media Award at their Pop of
Culture awards.
14. Karun, 24, Kenya
Musician
You might
know Karun from the pop trio Kenyan group Camp Mulla, nominated for a BET Award
in the US in 2012.
But this
alternative R&B pop artist is now taking on the world solo and is one of
Kenya’s rising new wave artists.
Born
Karungari Mungai, she started her music career at 14 and went on to attend the
prestigious Berklee College of Music in the US.
Since then,
she has had the opportunity to perform at live festivals and shows across the
globe such as the SXSW 2015 (Austin TX) as part of the collective Cosmic
Homies.
Karun also
performed at the Madaraka Festival (Seattle), Blankets & Wine in Kenya and
most recently, the Africa Nouveau Festival, Kenya’s most forward-thinking
electric three-day music festival.
She has
been covered by publications such as The Fader and OkayAfrica and
local Kenyan publications such as The Daily Nation.
The young
artist is currently working on a full-length project, and is in the process of
planning a pan-African and northern hemisphere tour.
“The goal
is to be the biggest female R&B act out of Africa. Watch this space,” she
tells us.
15. Gilmore Moyo, 29, Zimbabwe
Creative Director, Fashion Facilitator, Former TV & Radio Host and Founder: Paper Bag Africa
Gilmore
Moyo was named one of the 100 Most influential Zimbabweans Under 40 for 2018,
alongside politician Nelson Chamisa and Minister of Sports, Arts and
Recreation, Kirsty Coventry.
Moyo is
known for his contribution to the Zimbabwean media and art scene.
He hosted and produced a radio show on Cliff Central, and also Thatha Wena, a conversational pan-African TV show.
Apart from
his on-air talent, he also founded Paper Bag Africa, a content creation, public
relations and management company.
His biggest highlight in the business was attaining a contract to manage the European Union Film Festival 2018 and 2019, which ran over five days and showcased 10 films.
“Being an
entrepreneur in Zimbabwe is the most difficult thing one has to go through.
Funding is not available for you to grow your business and opportunities to
attain money aren’t easily visible,” he reflects.
Despite the
challenges, he is optimistic about the future.
“Our
ultimate goal is to become the ‘go to’ establishment for authentic African
content,” he says.
16. Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo, 29, South Africa
TV Host, Entrepreneur and Musician
Boitumelo
‘Boity’ Thulo wanted to pursue a career in criminology and psychology, but
instead, has become one of the most recognized stars in South Africa’s
entertainment industry.
To think
that her career started almost 10 years ago when she was cast in a lead role in
an advert for an international restaurant chain, Thulo has since dabbled in
various parts of the entertainment industry including TV hosting, acting, and
music.
“There are
so many highlights and standout moments in my career. But the one that always
gives me goosebumps is my lead role on the Fergusons’ Rockville [in
2013]. That role is what paved the way to ‘Boity’ becoming a household name. I
will forever be grateful to Connie and Shona Ferguson for believing in and
trusting me with such a big role,” she says.
Today, she
also wears the entrepreneurial hat after founding Boity Toning Support, a
weight loss supplement.
Last year,
Thulo recorded her debut single Wuz Dat featuring Nasty C, also a former
FORBES AFRICA 30 under 30 list-maker.
The song
was nominated for best collaboration at the SA Hip Hop awards.
Thulo stays
right on script as she further pursues acting, music, as well as developing
more health products and nutritional supplements.
17. Hermann Kamte, 27, Cameroon
Architect, Founder and CEO: Hermann Kamte & Associates
At 26,
Hermann Kamte delivered a keynote speech alongside Rwandan President Paul
Kagame and Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, during the Africa 2018
Forum at Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt.
He was
invited to speak about the future of African cities from the perspective of a
creative architect.
This has
been one of his biggest highlights to date and this is the only beginning.
Kamte is an
award-winning Cameroonian architect with flair.
He founded
Hermann Kamte & Associates, an architectural firm that provides design,
landscape, education, research and development services.
One of his
most notable works is the ‘Lagos’ Wooden Tower’ that won him the American
Architecture Award as well as the World Architecture Festival and Awards’
inaugural WAFX Prize in 2017, known as the world’s most forward-looking
concept.
“I think
the desire to be an entrepreneur was very important alongside the fear to
fail,” he says.
“Being able
to offer a useful service to the community is the first thing that drives my
passion for architecture. I have to be a model for younger generations; I want
to create a safe and secure environment for people, with sustainable projects,”
he adds.
Kamte is
well on his way to building a better tomorrow.
18. Helen Chukwu, 25, Nigeria
Fashion Designer, Founder and CEO: Helen Couture
Helen
Chukwu is cut from a different cloth and it is no surprise that her designs
have featured on Vogue Arabia.
She started
dressing up dolls as a child, and now dresses up brides for a living.
At the age
of 18, she became the founder and CEO of her design house, Helen Couture, which
currently has operations in Nigeria, London and Dubai.
One of her
memorable highlights was a private showcase in London and having her dress worn
by Katie Cleary, America’s Next Top Model Cycle 1 contestant, at the
2013 Oscar Party. She is currently in the process of stocking her products in
two stores each in the US, France and Italy.
She and her
team have started drawing up plans to raise capital and build a 10,000
garment-production-per-day garment manufacturing factory in Nigeria by 2021.
19. Luis Munana, 27, Namibia Creative
Director, Model, TV
Host and Founder: Voigush Africa
You might
remember his face from the ninth season of the reality television series Big
Brother Africa, in 2014.
Since then,
Luis Munana has been able to use his reality TV star status to good use.
Munana is a
creative director of a children’s TV show he founded in 2017 called Waka
Waka Moo.
The
original animated cartoon and puppet program became one of the first in
Namibia.
“I was
baby-sitting my niece and nephew and I saw them recite every single word from
cartoons created in the western world. So, I decided to create Namibia’s own
cartoon and puppet show translated in all 11 Namibian languages. So, Waka Waka
Moo was created,” he tells FORBES AFRICA.
The
animations educate children about Namibia’s history, culture and heritage.
He has
managed to expand Waka Waka Moo from being on TV to a tour reaching 44
rural primary schools in the country.
As for the
hosting side of his career, Munana founded Voigush Africa, a lifestyle,
fashion and entertainment TV show in 2014 inspired by the South African
entertainment market.
“While
studying in South Africa, I would go to auditions to shows like V
Entertainment, Top Billing and MTV Base Africa but they would always
tell me I am not South African. So, I came home and created my own show,” he
says.
Voigush has since covered music, lifestyle
and fashion events across Africa which Munana produces, directs, scripts and
edits himself.
As a jack
of all trades, Munana proves that one can be talented both on and off screen.
20. Upile Chisala, 24, Malawi
Author and Poet
Upile
Chisala started writing at the age of four.
By the time
she started primary school, there were piles of paper with little stories
scattered around her house, in Zomba, Malawi, which was already chock-a-block
with books.
But it took
her years to embrace her talent.
After
moving to the US, she studied sociology and graduated in 2015 but struggled to
find a steady job.
She turned
to poetry for comfort and self-published her first book at the age of 21.
It was her
first collection of poetry called Soft Magic.
She
continued her studies and enrolled for an MSc in African studies at the
University of Oxford.
She
revisited her writing and published a book called Nectar in 2017.
This
brought the opportunity to travel and do readings, but it was when she traveled
to Johannesburg, South Africa, that her talent was reaffirmed.
“The room
was filled with over 200 people who didn’t mind that there were no seats left
for them. They were happy to stand and listen to me read from both books,” she
says.
Next, she
received an email from two Folio Literary Management agents in New York City.
In no time,
Chisala signed a three-book deal with Andrews McMeel Publishing worth ‘hundreds
of thousands US dollars’.
Since then,
she founded Khala Series, a monthly mentorship program for writers in
Johannesburg.
All profits
from this series are donated.
“Khala is
my way of giving back to the community,” she says.
21. Joseph Awuah-Darko, 22, Ghana
Contemporary Artist
In a dump
site in Ghana near its capital Accra, Joseph Awuah-Darko stands holding a
laptop in one hand and a face mask in another, like something out of an
apocalypse movie.
He is
dressed in orange overalls and there is e-waste as far as the eye can see; and
the burning of the contents creates arid smoke in the background.
Darko is a
contemporary artist, art collector and dealer and co-founder of the NGO,
Agbogblo.Shine Initiative. The organization, which started in 2017, encourages
people working at the dump to turn waste into high-end furniture.
His aim was
to highlight the importance of the, “circular economy in the face of electronic
waste degradation”.
While
enrolled at Ashesi University in Ghana, he began educating himself about the
obscure art market.
His first
major sale was a 3D-printed Ife Head he sold privately to a buyer for $11,000
in 2017. Since then, more clients kept coming, trading the value of trash wish
cash and this resulted in him becoming the Managing Director of Africa Modern
Art Fund at the young age of 22.
He
presented a solo exhibition at Gallery1957; making him the youngest African
contemporary artist to do so.
Prior to
his contemporary art collector days, Darko was a musician under the alias
‘Okuntakinte’.
Darko is
well on his way to getting a piece of the estimated $60 billion global
contemporary art industry.
22. Joe ‘Human’ Nawaya, 25, Democratic
Republic of the Congo
Graphic designer and Co-founder: Creative Mind Space
Joe ‘Human’
Nawaya was once enrolled for a degree in design at Pearson Institute in South
Africa.
However,
due to lack of finances, he had to drop out.
“At this
point, I concluded that my life had stopped, I wasn’t going to be able to be
anybody or make something of myself,” he tells FORBES AFRICA. However, this is
not the design of his life as he was named Fast Company SA’s Top 20
Under 25 thanks to his passion and determination to pursue his first love,
graphics and design.
His
creative journey started when he was a child.
When his
parents bought him a computer, the first application he used was paint.
Taking his
passion to another level, he co-founded Creative Mind Space, together with his
business partner Elliot Sithole.
It is an
agency that focuses on creating content, designs, strategies, animation, and
websites for brands.
Nawaya has
been featured by Destiny Man as part of their Bold and Distinguished
edition, positioning him as one of the most creative content creators in South
Africa. Additionally, Nawaya went on to become a lifestyle ambassador for
Bespoken Man, a gentleman grooming brand focused on lifestyle and experience.
While
there, he worked with brands like Jameson Irish Whiskey, MINI Cooper and
Savanna Dry.
Nawaya
currently co-hosts #TheThreadedExchange with Siya Beyile, a former FORBES
AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 list-maker, on CliffCentral.
He has also
recently launched a podcast called Pioneers vs Pretenders on Lutcha, a
digital podcasting company, which hosts a variety of podcasts online.
23. Thando Thabethe, 29, South Africa
Actress, TV Presenter, and Radio DJ
Thando
Thabethe is a jack of all trades.
She’s a
prominent name in South Africa’s entertainment industry and has come to take it
all.
Her acting
career rose to prominence in early 2014 after her role on the South African
soapie, Generations: The Legacy.
Her radio
career dates back to the early days of 2008, having presented on the radio
station of the University of Johannesburg.
But today,
both her radio and acting careers have blossomed.
She
currently has her own weekday radio show called The Thabooty Drive.
As for her
acting, she moved from the small screen to the big screen, starring in the 2016
film Mrs Right Guy, the 2018 film Housekeepers and most recently,
the lead role in 2019’s box office hit Love Lives Here.
This year,
she was nominated for best TV host and best talk show for Thando Bares All,
which aired on TLC, and she walked away with the award for Best Talk
show.
“Focus on your own focus. I think when you
follow your heart and you follow your own passion, everything else follows and
those that need recognize and follow it will,” she tells us.
Some of her
achievements include being nominated for a SAFTA as the Best TV Presenter and
for the Liberty Radio Awards as Best Drive Time presenter and for Best Drive
Time Show.
24. Rich Fumani Mnisi, 27, South
Africa
Fashion Designer
When
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter came to South Africa for the Global Citizen Festival in
December, she was spotted wearing items of clothing by local designer Rich
Mnisi.
She was
adorned in the custom RICH MNISI Rhundzu blouse and crocodile half-pleat skirt.
“Growing
up, all I have always wanted to do was to design clothes that reflect my own
energy and the love of coloring outside the lines. I have dreamed of my
favorite icons wearing my clothes like any kid dreams of meeting their icons.
Protect your dreams with all you have because they have the power to define
your destiny,” he said in an Instagram post after celebrating the iconic
musician wearing his clothes.
In the
short amount of time that Mnisi has been in the fashion industry, he has turned
heads in South Africa’s fashion industry and internationally, featuring in
publications like Vogue Italia, GQ, Financial Times, Marie Claire, ELLE and
Vogue Russia.
Mnisi is a
graduate of LISOF (Leaders in the Science of Fashion) and was awarded the
Africa Fashion International Young Designer of the Year 2014.
He also
owns a furniture brand consisting of a chaise and a stool titled Nwa-Mulamula,
after his late great-grandmother.
He is also
the designer of the red Coca-Cola outfit worn by Karabo Poppy on the cover of
the 2019 FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list.
25. Kevin Njue 27, Kenya
Producer, Director, Writer and CEO: Rocque Pictures
At
university, Kevin Njue and his partner used his student loan of $200 to direct
and produce a short film that he had written in hostel. The film, Sticking
Ribbons, was released in 2013 and Njue went on to win the award for Best
East African Talent at the 2014 Zanzibar International Film Festival.
Njue used
the monetary reward of $1,000 to invest in his next short film, Intellectual
Scum, which went on to screen in 15 film festivals globally.
“I was
proud to thought-provoke the audience on the unequal racial relationships in
Africa’s cultural and political landscape,” he tells FORBES AFRICA.
After
gaining experience creating short films, Njue decided it was time to make
bigger ones, a full-length feature film.
This
ultimately led to him founding a business in 2016, Rocque Pictures.
With only
enough money just to register the business, he knocked on doors while pitching
his first feature film, 18 HOURS.
Of the
$45,000 dollars needed, he managed to raise $13,000 from a university professor
and an entrepreneur. In the end, the film was finished and launched in November
2017. It sold out at a cinema premiere in Nairobi.
In 2018,
the film won the Best Overall Movie in Africa, Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice
Awards, making history as the first Kenyan film to be nominated and win in the
history of the awards.
“As the CEO of Rocque Pictures, the goal is to
set up a state-of-the-art film studio with a sound stage, backlot, a film park
and an underwater film stage in Nairobi by 2030,” he says.
26. Sho Madjozi, 27, South Africa
Musician
Sho Majozi
won the hearts of South Africans in the early days of 2017 and seemingly,
everything she touches burst into a euphoric cornucopia of color in celebration
her African heritage.
She
introduced herself to the world as a Tsonga rapper with hits like Gqi, Huku,
Kona, Wakanda Forever, and recently Idhom, bringing the XiTsonga
language into the mainstream.
“I can’t
believe people tried to tell us we weren’t dope for so long, now they see…” she
says.
She is an
artist for the people and whenever she performs, her energy is infectious.
She has
played at festivals such as Afropunk, opened for artists like Travis Scott and
Jidenna, and not to mention one of her highlight performances at the Global
Citizen Festival in South Africa late last year.
The rising
star was born Maya Wegerif in the small village of Shirley, deep in the
province of the Limpopo province of South Africa.
After
living in Tanzania, Senegal, and the US, Madjozi is fluent in Kiswahili, French
and almost every South African language, making her pretty much a true global
citizen.
Apart for
her talented vocals, she also has a sense of style to match.
Her
inspiration comes from the traditional Tsonga culture.
She has
also teamed up with local designers to bring her first line of merchandise to
fans, awakening her entrepreneurial spirit.
Her goal is
to bring her culture to the world, which she continues to do so, staying true
to her roots.
She was
nominated for a BET Awards for Best New International Act, and recently bagged
the Newcomer Of The Year and female artist of the year at the South African
Music Awards.
27. Sarah Owusu, 28, Ghana
Artist and Painter
It all
started in the summer of 2012 when living in London, and Sarah Owusu was
diagnosed with Bell’s palsy which left the left side of her face paralyzed.
“During
this very dark period of my life, I wouldn’t leave my house except for my hospital
appointments, and a few weeks into my diagnosis, I got a sudden urge to paint
although I hadn’t created anything for years,” she tells FORBES AFRICA.
After
gaining the courage to paint, she went to a cheap pound store and bought two
blank canvases, cheap paint and brushes.
Owusu’s
passion for art grew as she noticed the lack of black female artists in the
industry.
One of the
biggest highlights for the self-taught artist was last year when she was
invited to present two of her paintings of the President of Ghana, Nana
Akufo-Addo, at the Africa Business Summit in London Business School.
“My future
plans are to have my artwork exhibited across the African continent, starting
from my place of origin, Ghana,” she says.
28. Abisola Akintunde, 28, Nigeria
Founder and Creative Director: MakeupbyAshabee and Beelashes
They say
beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but for Abisola Akntunde, beauty is also
in the brush stroke and makeup palette.
For three
weeks, she worked for a dental clinic before deciding to venture into makeup
full-time.
In 2012,
she worked with M-Net Africa Magic doing make-up on a TV set while
trying to set up her two businesses, Makeupbyashabee and Beelashes.
Soon
enough, she started receiving bookings outside of her job at M-Net and
had to quit and focus full-time on her entrepreneurial journey.
“It was a
very bold and scary step because I was afraid I was going to leave a steady
income for something not certain but like they say, ‘don’t be afraid’,” she
tells FORBES AFRICA.
Akintunde
took the bold step, bought her own car and set up her own studio and the rest
has been a transformation for the better.
Since
inception, MakeupbyAshabee has made up over 200 brides across Africa including
Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, South Africa and Kenya.
While with
Beelashes, she says she sells over 5,000 units of beauty lashes per quarter.
Akintunde
has hired a staff of 20 and has trained over 50 interns between 2017 and now.
As part of
her philanthropic efforts, she has partnered with the Archbishop Vining
Anglican Church in Lagos to train young women in the art of makeup.
She has
also partnered with AfribeautyHub to empower young women in Ibadan in Oyo
State, Nigeria, on makeup.
“The next
goal at MakeupbyAshabee is to learn permanent makeup, the art of micro-blading
and ombré brows,” she says.
By doing
this, she plans to bring something new to the table as micro-blading is an
eyebrow embroidery procedure categorized under permanent makeup lasting for up
to two years.
29. Yaa Bonsu, 28, Kenya
Fashion stylist and Creative
In 2017,
Yaa Bonsu met international model Naomi Campbell who told her to believe in
herself, and then signed a copy of her Vogue magazine.
Bonsu took
her advice and has been climbing the international ladder in fashion since.
“I remember
flipping through Vogue magazines when I was 15 years old and being
engrossed in this glossy world. After I watched the film, The Devil Wears
Prada, I knew the fashion world belonged to me,” she says.
Today, she
spends her days with runway models, designers and in the thick of fashion
shoots for some of those glossy magazines.
In 2016,
she relocated to Dubai where her career in the fashion industry took off.
She
connected with industry powerhouses such as Naomi Campbell, Zeynab El-Helw and
Shashi Menon.
She has had
the opportunity to style an advertorial for the luxury brand Fendi, SS19, in
April 2019.
The same
year, she produced a fashion editorial for Revolution magazine that
featured high-end jewelry – Dior, de GRISOGONO, Bvlgari and Piaget, an
achievement she says she is most proud of.
She has set
her goals on becoming an internationally-renowned fashion powerhouse joining
the leagues of icons Victoria Beckham, Edward Enninful and Vanessa Kingori.
30. Paola Audrey Ndengue, 29, Cote d’Ivoire
Host and Producer and Co-founder: FASHIZBLACK
Paola
Audrey Ndengue is an entrepreneur and a creative with a higher calling.
Her mission
has been to promote the French-speaking African creative scene to the world.
While
studying in France, she became a fashion blogger and has since gained 10 years’
experience in digital media.
She is
currently the co-founder and creative director of FASHIZBLACK, a
magazine focused on black and African fashion, designers, beauty and lifestyle.
And her
most recent venture is PANNELLE & Co, a PR creative marketing and content
agency in 2013.
She has
worked with several international clients and artists such as Kiff No Beat
(Côte d’Ivoire), Stanley Enow (Cameroon), Boddhi Satva (Central African
Republic) and Canabasse (Senegal).
Both
businesses she is involved in led to her being recognized as a finalist at the
CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards for the Young Business Leader of
The Year in West Africa 2014.
Her growth
since has been phenomenal and she has featured in numerous publications
including Teen Vogue, CNN Africa and Forbes Afrique.
She is
currently working on Maybelline’s first pan-African campaign, including several
celebrities and influencers from Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria.
She was
recently appointed the marketing manager of the first MTV Shuga Côte d’Ivoire,
an international show educating young viewers about HIV/AIDS, an opportunity
that will enlarge Ndengue’s reach.