Cape Town - Top Billing presenter Bonang Matheba, comedian Trevor Noah and record label owner DJ Sbu have made Forbes magazine's list of 13 African celebrities to watch in 2013, reports Sowetan Live.

The list, compiled for Forbes by Zimbabwean television personality Farai Gundan, explores Africa's growing consumer base and how celebrities have become businesses on the continent.

Among notable African celebrities such as Nigerian actor David Oyelowo and NBA basketball player Serge Ibaka who was born in Congo, Bonang, Trevor and DJ Sbu are the only South African celebrities that have made the list.

'Huge honour'

Gundan writes that these celebrities all have Twitter accounts with more than a million followers, "heightening" their visibility in the media and the rest of the world.

Bonang, who recently made her debut on Top Billing as presenter, boasts with titles such as the 2012 Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year Award and also being the first black South African female to land a cover on FHM.

Speaking to the Sowetan Live, Bonang said that this was a "huge honour" for her.

'Great start to the new year'

"I never thought I'd ever make it to a Forbes list and being the only South African female to have made the list and to be among greats like Trevor Noah and DJ Sbu is an honour."

Trevor is currently touring London with a sold-out show after making a succesful US debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He is the first and only South African comedian that has been able to land himself a gig on US television.

DJ Sbu, musician and record label (TS Records) owner, was also voted Sunday Time's Coolest Brand of 2012. He has also helped launch the careers of artists such as Zahara and the late Brown Dash.

Forbes' 13 African Celebrities to Watch in 2013:

Ahmen Soultan (recording artist, Morocco)
David Oyelowo (actor, Nigeria)
Trevor Noah  (comedian, South Africa)
Serge Ibaka (NBA basketball player, Republic of Congo)
Julius Onah (film maker, Nigeria)
Kudzanai Chiurai (artist/painter, Zimbabwe)
Mataano (fashion designer, Ethiopia)
DJ Sbu (recording artist /entrepreneur, South Africa)
Ajak Deng (supermodel, Sudan)
Camp Mulla (Hip Hop group, Kenya)
Sarkodie / R2Bees (recording artists, Ghana)
Mark Tonderai Hodges (film maker, Zimbabwe)
Bonang Matheba (media personality, South Africa)

Knew DJ Sbu through the song Lengoma. It's a nice song.