THE 2026 EDITION
A permanent public list of the one hundred Africans shaping business, culture, science, and society worldwide.
Applications and nominations open until 30 September 2026. The list publishes December 2026.
THE 2026 EDITION
A permanent public list of the one hundred Africans shaping business, culture, science, and society worldwide.
Applications and nominations open until 30 September 2026. The list publishes December 2026.
THE APPROACH
Africa spans fifty-four countries and a diaspora of more than two hundred million people. The political and logistical landscape often makes a single physical gathering complicated — travel difficult, sometimes costly, frequently impractical across such distance.
But the community's excellence continues unabated. In business, cinema, music, science, medicine, public service, and every field between, Africans are shaping the world.
So we honour differently. No hotel ballroom. No black tie. A digital recognition programme that reaches every African, on the continent and across the diaspora, wherever they are.
The outcome is simple: a permanent public list of one hundred outstanding Africans, chosen by editorial selection, published annually, celebrated globally.
Physical ceremonies will follow when the moment is right.
FOUNDED 2014 · HONOURING AFRICAN EXCELLENCE
The African Awards were founded in 2014 to celebrate what too often goes uncelebrated: the quiet brilliance, the enterprise, the art, the service that defines our community. In 2026 we relaunch as a digital programme, open to every African, on the continent and across the diaspora. Only achievement matters.
THE PROCESS
Self-applications at £45 submit a full dossier and receive a guaranteed editorial review. Third-party nominations remain free.
Our editorial team scores every submission against published criteria. Long lists are compiled per category for final selection.
Our editorial team selects the final one hundred across ten fields. Criteria and scores are documented and applied consistently.
The list is published December 2026 with global press coverage. Each honouree receives a digital pack and a permanent public profile.
TWO ROUTES TO BE CONSIDERED
Both routes feed into the same editorial review. The difference is how much detail you provide and how much feedback you receive.
Route I · Free
Anyone may nominate an outstanding African. Takes under two minutes.
Route II · £45
Submit a full dossier for detailed editorial review with written feedback. You are applying on your own merit.
IMPORTANT · FOR SELF APPLICANTS
The £45 fee covers:
Administrative review, editorial consideration, written assessment feedback, and a likelihood score. It reflects the cost of editorial time per applicant.
The £45 fee does not:
Guarantee listing. Bypass editorial selection. Influence the decision. Applicants are assessed on merit alone. Fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Secure Stripe checkout collects your £45 and your dossier: name, country, category, biography, evidence of achievement, and supporting links. Takes 10 minutes.
Our editorial team acknowledges every application personally. You will know your dossier is in the review stack.
Your dossier is scored against the category criteria. Every submission is read in full.
Every self applicant receives a private assessment letter with score, editorial reasoning, and a 50% reapplication credit for 2027 if not selected.
The final 100 are published with global press coverage. Selected applicants are offered an optional Winner's Pack (£99) or Featured Profile (£250/yr) for deeper recognition. Neither is required.
FOR THOSE SELECTED
Selection onto The 100 is free. These are optional purchases for deeper public recognition.
Official digital certificate. Winner's badge for LinkedIn and email. Press release template. High resolution logos. Full media kit.
Purchase · £99Dedicated profile page. Professional biography. Links to your work. SEO-optimised for your name. Priority placement. Renews annually.
Subscribe · £250/yrTHE AFRICAN AWARDS NETWORK
A standing community of recognised African excellence. Listing, badge, and access — renewed annually. Open beyond the published 100.
Gold
Platinum
Membership is a separate community programme. It is not a route onto the editorial 100 and confers no selection advantage.
FOR BRANDS
Align your brand with African excellence. Logo placement, dedicated editorial feature, and social amplification across an entire category for a full year.
STAY INFORMED
Monthly. The names, the moves, the moments shaping African excellence. Free.
SELF APPLICATION · £45
Complete every field below. On submission you will be taken to secure payment via Stripe. Your application is logged immediately and processed on payment.
NOMINATE SOMEONE
Free to nominate. We'll notify the nominee and include them in editorial review.
Applying for yourself? Begin a self-application for £45 →
PARTNER WITH US
Tell us about your brand and we'll send the full category sponsorship prospectus.