Nigerian gospel musician, Sinach and Nigerian Afropop singer, Yemi Alade has made the list of 100 most influential women in Africa.
The list was compiled by Avance Media, and these women were drawn from 34 African countries with their respective contribution to the development of Africa being considered.
They join the likes of Linda Ikeji, Okonjo Iweala, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Uche Pedro of Bella Naija and others who have been on the list before the recent update.
However, Nigerian women recorded the most representation this year as they topped the list with 20 appearances. South Africa and Ghana made up the top three with 11 and 9 women leaders respectively.
This is the first time gospel artiste, Sinach, is making this list, in the entertainment category.
See full list of 100 most influential women in Africa below;
1. Agnes Binagwaho (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Global Health Equity
2. Agnes Kalibata || CEO, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
3. Amanda Mukwashi || CEO, Christian Aid
4. Amani Abou-Zeid (H.E Dr.) || Commissioner for Infrastructure & Energy, African
Union
5. Amel Karboul (Dr.) || CEO, Education Outcomes Fund
6. Amina C. Mohamed (Dr.) || Cabinet Secretary, Sports, Culture & Heritage (Kenya)
7. Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
8. Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh || Regional Head, IBM Africa
9. Angélique Kidjo || Musician
10. Anita Erskine || Founder, Anita Erskine Media
11. Anna Nimiriano || Editor-in-Chief, Juba Monitor
12. Anne-Marie Dias Borges || Presenter, BBC
13. Antoinette Sayeh || Deputy MD, IMF
14. Arikana Chihombori Quao || Activist
15. Aurélie A. Soulé Zoumarou || Minister, Digital Economy and Communications
(Benin)
16. Ayisha Osori || CEO, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
17. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala || Vice President & CFO, AFDB
18. Bella Disu || Vice Chairman, Globacom
19. Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || CEO, soleRebels
20. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi || First Lady, Ekiti State
21. Chileshe Kapwepwe (H.E.) || Secretary-General, (COMESA)
22. Dorothy Tembo || Ag. Executive Director, International Trade Centre
23. Edith Yah Brou || Blogger
24. Eghosa Oriaikhi Mabhena || CEO, Puma Energy Africa
25. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf || Founder, EJS Center
26. Elsie S. Kanza || Head of Africa, World Economic Forum
27. Emma Lohoues || Actress
28. Emma Theofelus || Deputy Minister, Namibia
29. Esther Cobbah || CEO, Stratcomm Ghana
30. Fadumo Dayib || Politician
31. Faith Osier (Prof) || President, International Union of Immunological Societies
32. Fatou Bom Bensouda || Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
33. Fatoumata Bâ || Founder, Janngo
34. Françoise Remarck || Chairman, Canal+ Cote D’Ivoire
35. Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust
36. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor || Minister, International Relations and Cooperation
37. Hajer Sharief || Co-Founder, Together We Build it
38. Hala Zayed (Dr.) || Minister, Health and Population (Egypt)
39. Halima Dangote || Executive Director, Dangote Group
40. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu || CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation
41. Ilwad Elman || Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Center
42. Irene Charnley || Founder, Smile Communications
43. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang (Prof) || Chancellor, Women’s University in Africa
44. Jewel Howard Taylor (H.E) || Vice President, Liberia
45. Juliet Ehimuan || Director, Google West Africa
46. Kamissa Camara || Secretary-General, Mali Presidency
47. Lalla Moulaye Ezzedine || Chairman, Bank of Africa Côte d’Ivoire
48. Laureen Kouassi-Olsson || Regional Head, Amethis
49. Leila Bouamatou || Managing Director, BANK OF MAURITANIA GENERAL
50. Linda Ikeji || CEO, Linda Ikeji Media
51. Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la
Francophonie
52. Lucy Quist || Chief Diversity & Inclusion Ocer, Morgan Stanley
53. Lydia Nsekera || Member, International Olympic Committee
54. Magda Wierzycka || CEO, Sygnia
55. Maggie Kigozi || Chairperson, Africa Scout Foundation
56. Mamokgethi Phakeng (Prof) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town
57. Mansa Nettey || CEO, StanChart Ghana
58 Martine Co-Studer || Chairperson Bolloré Transport & Logistics
59. Massogbè Touré || CEO, SITA S.A
60. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO
61. Melene Rossouw || Founder, Women Lead Movement
62. Mimi Kalinda || CEO, Africa Communications Media Group
63. Monica Geingos (H.E) || First Lady, Republic of Namibia
64. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu || Executive Director, WASCI
65. Nathalie Akon Gabala || Regional Head, Mastercard Foundation
66. Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli || Founder, LEAP Africa
67. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala || Board Chair, Gavi Alliance
68. Nompumelelo Thembekile Madisa || CEO, Bidvest Group
69. Olajumoke Adenowo || Founder, AD Consulting
70. Oumou Sangaré || Musician
71. Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group
72. Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana
73. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Dr) || Executive Director, UN Women
74. Racheal Njoroge || Managing Director, Cummins
75. Rachel Sibande (Dr) || Founder, mHub
76. Rasha Kelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation
77. Rawya Mansour || Founder, RAMSCO
78. Raychelle Omamo || Minister, Foreign Aairs (Kenya)
79. Rita Bissoonauth || Head, AU International Centre for Girls and Women’s
Education
80. Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E) || President, Ethiopia
81. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey || Minister, Foreign Aairs and Regional Integration
(Ghana)
82. Sinach || Musician
83. Sisi Ntombela || Premier, Free State (South Africa)
84. Snowy Khoza (Dr) || CEO, Bigen Africa
85. Soham El Wardini || Mayor, Dakar
86. Sola David-Borha || Group CEO, Standard Bank Africa
87. Stella Nyanzi (Dr.) || Convenor, Women’s Protest Uganda
88. Sylvia Mulinge || Chief Customer Ocer, Safaricom
89. Temie Giwa-Tubosun || Founder, LifeBank
90. Toyin Sanni || CEO, Emerging Africa Capital
91. Toyin Saraki || Founder, Wellbeing Foundation Africa
92. Uche Pedro || Founder, BELLANAIJA
93. Vera Daves De Sousa || Minister, Finance (Angola)
94. Vera Songwe (Dr) || Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa
95. Wala’a Essam Al-Boushi || Minister, Youth and Sport (Sudan)
96. Wanjira Mathai || Vice President & Regional Director for Africa, World Resources
Institute
97. Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS
98. Yemi Alade || Musician
99. Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr || Mayor, Freetown
100. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed || Minister, Finance (Nigeria)
