Have you ever wondered how revolution came to Africa or renowned Africans who have impacted into the lives of others and changed the world around us? Ranging from politics to human rights activism, there are people who staked their neck in their various endeavors to put the name of Africa in the “Hall of Fame of World Achievers”.

Here is a list of my top ten heroes and heroines that changed the world.

1. Emperor Haile Selassie→

Popularly called “the Emperor of the Nation”, Tafari Makonnen, (also known as Haile Selassie), the 225th and last king of Ethiopia.

He is one man who is to be reckoned with for his fight against colonialism in Africa when he started a stern resistance against the Italian army in the 1930s and was named Time Man of the Year in 1936.

He was the only man to address both the League of Nations and the United Nations and was a strong supporter of the principle of collective responsibility in international law.

He was also the man who initiated the formation of Organization of African Union (OAU, now African Union, AU) which he later became its first Chairman.

He was also instrumental in peacekeeping missions across Africa.

2. Nelson Mandela →

Popularly known as Mandiba, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, is celebrated as the most famous black leader in history because of his fight against apartheid in South Africa.

He was sentenced to death for treason which was later commuted to life imprisonment and he spent over 26 years in prison. After his release in 1990, he went on to become the first democratically elected president in South Africa.

He is famously known also for his writings among which include “Long Walk to Freedom”. He and President De Klerk FW were jointly awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1993 for their effort in curbing apartheid in South Africa.

3. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf →

It is believed that this is a man’s world but certain ladies went outside their comfort zone to prove this notion wrong.

Ellen is the world’s first elected Black Female President and the first female President in Africa.

Before her reign, she was an activist who openly spoke against the regime of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, whose tenure in office was castigated for being the worst in terms of human rights violation and awkward economic policies in Liberia.

She worked effortlessly to ensure Charles Taylor was extradited in 2006 to face allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Her political and economic policies aimed at boosting the economy by reducing corruption as well as stop the civil war ravaging the country.

She is a joint Noble Prize Laureate for nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.

4. Chinua Achebe →

In the world of literature, Late Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, a popular novelist, was known for his bell-selling book “Things Fall Apart” which has been translated into over 50 languages.

Most of his writings showcased his unsentimental view of the harm caused by colonialism in Africa and the imposition of western culture alien to Africans.


However, very few know him for his political criticism until he wrote the book “There was a country” which explained his perspective of the Nigerian Civil War that ended in 1970.

He is also known for being the pioneer African author that made the Heinemann Group to begin publishing the African Writer Series, which helped many African books to reach large audience across the world. His work is used in most schools across the global.

5. Angelique Kidjo →

Angelique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo popularly known as “Africa’s Premiere Diva” is a Grammy Award winner who has influenced a lot of people with her songs and humanitarian works.

Born in Ouidah, Benin Republic, she rose to limelight by her desire to produce songs deep-rooted in African culture such as “Wombo lombo”, “Aye”, “Agolo” and the famous “Djin Djin” that won her a Grammy award for Best Contemporary World Music album.

She was listed amongst the 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa by Forbes Magazine amongst a host of other accolades across the globe.

She was made UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2002 and has travelled the length and breadth of Africa with the aim of spreading the good news of the girl-child education.

Along with other activists, she founded the Batonga Foundation, which grants scholarships, build schools among others, to enable the girl-child get quality education and take prominent roles in Africa.


She was also appointed by the African Union (AU) as one of the 14 Peace Ambassadors to support the implementation of the 2010 Year of Peace and Security Programme.


6. Wangari Maathai →

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist who changed the world around her by founding the Green Belt Movement in the 1970s.

The aim of the organisation was to promote environmental conservation in Kenya and Africa as a whole. Her policies were focused on promoting peace while avoiding conflicts.

She was also among the activists who clamoured for the return of democracy in Kenya and when it eventually come, she served as a member of the Kenyan Parliament in the 1990s and as Assistant Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources in 2003.

She was also the co-founder of the Nobel Women Initiative. In 2004, she became the first African woman be bestowed the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.
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