THE 2026 LIST
One hundred outstanding Africans across ten fields of achievement, selected each year through nomination and editorial review.
Founded in 2014 and relaunched as a digital programme in 2026. The 2026 list is open: places are filled through public nomination and editorial selection, with the full one hundred announced in December 2026. Applications and nominations are open now.
EDITORIAL FEATURE
Before the 2026 list is announced, we recognise the figures who already define African excellence on the world stage. This is an editorial reference selected by our team, not the applied 2026 list. It sets the standard the programme measures against.
Nigeria · Dangote Group
Africa's richest person. Founder of the Dangote Group and the world's largest single-train oil refinery.
Nigeria · Heirs Holdings
Chairman of UBA, Heirs Holdings and Transcorp. Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
South Africa · African Rainbow
Founder of African Rainbow Minerals. President of the Confederation of African Football.
Zimbabwe · Econet
Founder of Econet Wireless. Telecoms and fintech pioneer across the continent.
Egypt · OCI / Aston Villa
Egypt's wealthiest businessman. Industrialist and co-owner of Aston Villa FC.
Nigeria · BUA Group
Founder of BUA Group — cement, sugar, and infrastructure. Among Africa's wealthiest.
South Africa · Richemont
Chairman of luxury group Richemont (Cartier, Montblanc). One of Africa's richest.
South Africa · Naspers
Chairman of Naspers/Prosus. Turned a media house into a global technology investor.
Nigeria · Afrobeats
Grammy-winning global Afrobeats superstar. Stadium headliner across four continents.
South Africa · Pop / Amapiano
Two-time Grammy winner for Best African Music Performance. The breakout global pop star of her generation.
Nigeria · Afrobeats
One of the architects of Afrobeats' global rise. Grammy winner and generational icon.
Nigeria · Afrobeats
One of Africa's most successful music exports. World Cup 2026 performer.
Nigeria / Benin · Afropop
Grammy-nominated young star. On the official FIFA World Cup 2026 soundtrack.
Benin · Global
Five-time Grammy winner. One of the continent's most decorated and enduring ambassadors.
Nigeria · Afrobeats
"Calm Down" became one of the biggest Afrobeats songs in history. World Cup 2026 soundtrack.
Nigeria · Afrobeats / R&B
Grammy winner. Among the most influential African voices in global music today.
Egypt · Football
Liverpool and Egypt talisman. One of the greatest African footballers of all time.
Nigeria · Football
Prolific striker and one of the most valuable forwards in world football.
Morocco · Football
PSG and Morocco star. Spearheaded Morocco's historic World Cup semi-final run.
Kenya · Athletics
Multiple Olympic champion and world record holder in the 1500m. The greatest female miler in history.
Kenya · Marathon
The greatest marathoner of all time. First human to run a marathon under two hours.
Nigeria · WTO
Director-General of the World Trade Organization — the first woman and first African to hold the post.
Rwanda · President
President of Rwanda. Architect of the country's transformation into a model of stability and growth.
South Africa · President
President of South Africa, the continent's most industrialised economy.
Mozambique · Humanitarian
Global advocate for women's and children's rights. Stateswoman and humanitarian leader.
Tunisia · Director
Twice Oscar-nominated director. Her 2025 film The Voice of Hind Rajab drew global acclaim and A-list backing.
Senegal · Director
Cannes Grand Prix winner for Atlantics. Her documentary Dahomey won the Golden Bear at Berlin 2024.
Zambia · Director
BAFTA-winning writer-director. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl premiered at Cannes 2024 to critical acclaim.
Kenya · Actor
Academy Award winner and one of the most recognised African actors in global cinema.
Nigeria · Writer
Globally celebrated novelist and essayist. Author of Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun.
Nigeria · Writer
Nobel Laureate in Literature, the first African writer to receive the prize.
Ghana · Artist
Sculptor of monumental metal tapestries, among the most acclaimed contemporary artists in the world.
Tanzania · Writer
Nobel Laureate in Literature, honoured for his work on colonialism and displacement.
Nigeria · Computing
Computer scientist known for pioneering work in parallel processing and supercomputing.
South Africa · Chemistry
Pioneering chemist advancing photodynamic cancer therapy, among Africa's most decorated scientists.
Ethiopia · Science
Molecular plant pathologist and Director General of the International Centre of Insect Physiology.
Cameroon · Public Health
Virologist and global health leader, formerly head of the Africa CDC.
South Africa · Epidemiology
World-renowned epidemiologist recognised for HIV and COVID-19 research leadership.
Guinea-Bissau · Health
Physician and global health leader in the fight against malaria and health equity.
Uganda · Climate
Internationally recognised climate justice campaigner and UN Goodwill Ambassador.
Liberia · Peace
Nobel Peace Laureate, honoured for leading a women's peace movement that helped end civil war.
DR Congo · Human Rights
Nobel Peace Laureate and surgeon, recognised for his work with survivors of conflict violence.
South Africa · Music
Two-time Grammy winner and breakout global pop star, still in her early twenties.
Nigeria · Music
Grammy-nominated Afropop star and one of the most-streamed young African artists in the world.
South Africa · Activism
Youth activist and author whose campaigning began as a schoolgirl and reached global attention.
APPLICATIONS & NOMINATIONS OPEN
Closing 30 September 2026.