Top 10 most powerful African celebrities (With Pictures)

Most powerful African celebrities : Every human aims for power, fame, fortune and respect and it is also a fact that humans around the world are driven by one single word, Success! While others are able to reach their goals in life, others are not so lucky with that.

More.. Top 20 celebs with the biggest & sexiest butts in the world – You need to see #1 (+Photos) 10 Instagram profiles to follow if you like big butts (+Photos) Popular marriage breakups in Nollywood & how they happened Top celebrities you never knew acted adult films – You will be shocked seeing this (With Pics) Today we’ll be taking a good look at musicians, playwrights, and even Human Rights Activists who have been able to leave marks, not only in their birth places, but worldwide.

In a bid to combat corruption, poverty, and other social ills, they have caught the attention of Big Brother, who’s constantly watching from a distance the effects of their efforts.

Here is a list of the top ten most powerful celebrities from Africa:

10. Femi Kuti, Nigeria

Femi is the eldest son of the legendary Fela Kuti who was labeled as the ‘King of Rock n’ Roll in Africa’.

At 49 years of age, this Nigerian musician has been able to keep his father’s spirit alive through his energetic Afrobeat music.

He has toured the world performing his music and has done numerous collaborations with other international artists like Common and Mos def (both from the US). His album, Fight to WIN, sold gold.

9. Oumou Sangare

One of Mali’s most idolized musical legends, Sangare popularized Wassoulou, a popular genre of traditional music peculiar to Mali.

Wassoulou is typically performed by women accompanied by traditional instruments like the Djembe drum and the Kora (a traditional African harp). 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 official ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2003.

Also a successful entrepreneur: In 2006 she partnered with a Chinese automobile company to create a car named after her, Oum Sang.

8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka – South Africa

Popularly known as the ‘Princess of Africa’, Yvonne, 46, is one of the most common faces in the South African music industry.

During the fight against apartheid, the young Yvonne was an important figure in the struggle as she always advocated for equality for all through her lyrics.

She has won several Grammy Awards for her music. At the moment, she is the Goodwill ambassador for UN there.

7. Salif Keita – Mali

Salif is highly regarded in Mali for two major things. First, he is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire known as Sundiata Keita. Second, he is among the musicians that pioneered Afro-pop.

However, the 62 year old musician started to encounter his fare share of troubles after being labeled as an outcast in the village, for suffering from Albinism.

He has been a major figure in the fight against stigma normally associated to albinos worldwide.

6. Wole Soyinka – Nigeria

In 1986 the Nigerian Playwright 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.

5. Akon – Senegal

The Senegalese-American hip-hop act stepped into the limelight in 2004 with the release of ‘Locked 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. Also one of Hip-Hop’s business savviest: Co-owns Kon Live, an Interscope-backed record label which helped jumpstart the career of Lady Gaga and T-Pain; Also owns Konvict clothing. Maintains strong bond with home country, founded the Konfidence Foundation which promotes education and health causes in Senegal and elsewhere in Africa.

4. Angelique Kidjo -Benin

Angelique deserves a spot when African divas are being mentioned. Her silky voice has won several Grammy Awards and she has even collaborated with several other US artists such as Carlos Santana and Alicia keys.

The 51 year old musician consistently fights for African women’s rights and is currently the Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.

3. Didier Drogba – Cote D’Ivoire

Drogba has won the admiration of football fans worldwide. The 33 year old Chelsea striker demonstrates strength in leadership both on and off the pitch.

This is because he played a crucial role in ending civil wars in Cote D’Ivoire, in 2006. In addition, he also donated $5 million, which he received from an endorsement deal, for building a hospital in Abidjan, which is his hometown.

2. Youssou N’dour – Senegal

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. He helped popularize Mbalax, an inimitable genre of music which blends western sounds like Pop and rock with sabar, the traditional dance music of the Senegalese. During the course of his career, N’dour has toured with stars like Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman and Dido and has been the subject of two award-winning films- Retour à Gorée and Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love.

1. Chinua Achebe – Nigeria

The father of African literature authored the 1958 classic, Things Fall Apart which has been translated into over 50 languages and has sold over 10 million copies internationally.

In September, Achebe made headlines when he turned down a $1million offer from American Hip-Hop act, Curtis Jackson (A.K.A 50 Cent) for permission to use the Things Fall Apart title for an upcoming movie. The renowned novelist is also an essayist, political critic and currently serves as Professor of African studies at Brown University, Rhode Island.

He died March 21, 2013

-dailygossip

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