Across the world, Africa has come a long way with regards to fighting for independence, economic freedom and democracy. In this quest, some Africans stood-out and are celebrated as the icons of many revolutions that happened on the continent.

Many intellectuals and political icons have led and given their lives to this struggle, but the legacies of some have refused to die despite death at a relatively young age.

Here are five African revolutionaries and leaders that are most celebrated by Africa, and whose ideals laid the foundation for the economic and political progress of their respective countries.

1. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, formerly Gold Coast . He led the fight for Ghana's independence in 1957.
From prison, he led the Convention Peoples' Party (CPP) to win an election in February 1951. As a result, he was released to form a government in 1951 and pushed for the country’s total independence in 1957.
He was a firm believer in African liberation and pursued a radical pan-African policy. This ideal led to the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) (now the African Union) in 1963. His legacy and dream of a "United States of African" still remains a goal among many.

http://pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/5-most-celebrated-revolutionaries-freedom-fighters-in-africa-id7710856.html

2. Patrice Lumumba, DR Congo

Patrice Emery Lumumba was the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo from June to September 1960.
Lumumba was the leader of Mouvement National Congolais (MNC) party and played an instrumental role in the struggle for independence. He also continued to fight the influence of Belgium and other Western nations in the new country. This pitched him against the Western powers as he was unrelenting in his quest for the extermination of all signs of imperialism.
He was assassinated at age 35 years old in 1961.

3. Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso

Thomas Sankara was a charismatic revolutionary leader. He rose to the rank of captain in the Burkinabe military before he was thirty years old.
In 1983, Sankara led a popularly-supported military coup against President Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo. His motive was to end corruption and continued supremacy of the former French colonial power. He pushed for a reformed Burkina Faso through many ambitious programs for social and economic transformation.
He changed the country’s name from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso - “Land of the Upright Man” . His approach made him a favourite of many Africans.
Backed by the Western powers, Balise Compore – a close friend of Sankara, led the overthrow of Sankara in 1987. It was during this coup that Sankara was killed at the age 37.

4. Nelson Mandela, South Africa

He was the first black President of South Africa and the most celebrated African leader of modern history.
Mandela led the anti-apartheid movement for over 50 years, and was successful in ending the decades of racial discrimination against the black natives by the white minority.
During his presidency, Mandela focused on reconciliation and ensured all was done to avoid a repeat of apartheid i.e the blacks maltreating the whites, and unification of the country.
Mandela died in 2013 aged 95.

5. Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein, Egypt

Gamal Abdel Nasser is fondly referred as the father of modern Egypt. His ideas and influence still hold sway in the North African country. At present, there is a movement known as Nasserism in Eygpt and many Arab countries.
Nasser led the obliteration of monarchical rule in Egypt in 1952 and introduced many reforms. His public support and popularity grew after he nationalized the Suez Canal.
He attempted to resign in 1967, but nationwide protests of his supporters ensure his reinstatement. Nasser died of heart attack at age 52 in 1970 shortly after attending the Arab League Summit

Cc:
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Where is Zik of Africa and Co?

Where is Nnamdi Kanu

Etumgbe:
Where is Zik of Africa and Co?

Zik ogini ?! There is no greater bigot than Zik in the history of Nigeria.

Ballmer:


Zik ogini ?! There is no greater bigot than Zik in the history of Nigeria.

just by mere mention of zik, ur in pains..ur hate is legendary

wia is gadafi.?

I have heard so much about Sankara. I need to read about him.

Thomas Sankara I belive was the father of pan Africanism. he believed so much in Africa and her people and was never afraid to speak his mind. the particular speech he made at the UN General assembly telling the whole world that the Era of colonialism in Africa was gone was apparently too much for the whites to bear.he wanted Africa to produce instead of importing goods. he was there at every point urging Africans to stand up.such a great man. he didn't just fight for his motherland he fought for Africa. not many have done that

Sankara d smartest of all, Mandela d greatest

jollymizzle:
Thomas Sankara I belive was the father of pan Africanism. he believed so much in Africa and her people and was never afraid to speak his mind. the particular speech he made at the UN General assembly telling the whole world that the Era of colonialism in Africa was gone was apparently too much for the whites to bear.he wanted Africa to produce instead of importing goods. he was there at every point urging Africans to stand up.such a great man. he didn't just fight for his motherland he fought for Africa. not many have done that

our best were mostly taken out by the whites using our own very useless people to achieve that.

Nigerians celeberate others but not their own, otherwise
ZIK,
AWO.
BELLO and
OBJ are worth more than 3 of each of them outside Nigeria.
We don't even celeberate our sovereign Naira. We prefer the Dollar. Value Sense is wanting.

Caseless:
our best were mostly taken out by the whites using our own very useless people to achieve that.

yes they did. they crippled Africa leaving us with corrupt short sighted leaders just because they wanted to continue stealing our resources while keeping us in servitude.its a pity we were too weak to do anything about it then at least. now we have no excuse

orisa37:
Nigerians celeberate others but not their own, otherwise
ZIK,
AWO.
BELLO and
OBJ are worth more than 3 of each of them outside Nigeria.
We don't even celeberate our sovereign Naira. We prefer the Dollar. Value Sense is wanting.

i revere PA awolowo and his policies, he brought out the best in the Yoruba nation and no leader of our has been able to match his outstanding leadership. I place hi among the likes of Nelson Mandela, Kwame nkrumah but Thomas Sankara had he lived would probably have made Africa greater than Europe and the USA. the others I mentioned earlier fought for their people. Sankara wanted to liberate the whole of Africa. he wanted us to stop them from taking our resources,make the whites build their technology here instead of taking our oil away to refine, our cotton to produce, he knew the value of western education too so he wasn't a blind bigot oblivious to the facts. In my opinion he was the greatest African leader that ever lived

Useful information. Thanks.

My maximum respect to Thomas Sankara. He is a gift undervalued by Burkinabés.

Where is Nnamdi Azikiwe, chinuea Achebe?
You don't include them because they're igbo?
Shame on you OP

Thomas Sankara was interesting I watched documentary about him yesterday. He had great policies like food sufficiency, equal rights, reducing cost of governance and his environmental efforts were great. The great green wall initiative was actually inspired by him. He only failed in some ways due to his economic policies. That's what gave room for his counter coup.

13ShadesOfMay:
5. Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein, Egypt

Gamal Abdel Nasser is fondly referred as the father of modern Egypt. His ideas and influence still hold sway in the North African country. At present, there is a movement known as Nasserism in Eygpt and many Arab countries.
Nasser led the obliteration of monarchical rule in Egypt in 1952 and introduced many reforms. His public support and popularity grew after he nationalized the Suez Canal.
He attempted to resign in 1967, but nationwide protests of his supporters ensure his reinstatement. Nasser died of heart attack at age 52 in 1970 shortly after attending the Arab League Summit

Cc:
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Bro you forget to put kanu name abi he nor be freedom fighter

where is martin luther king jr

g

Buhari Da.....

No Nigerian can appear here. We are always afraid to take risk.

I know that TERRORIST would make the list. Nelson Mandela was nothing but a celebrated terrorist also a bigot and racist. He was a puppet for the then USSR and then USSR funded his Terrorism act to carry out bombings in South Africa in the name of apartheid, At first, his goal was Communism as his allies were Fidel Castrol, Stalin etc

If you really were fighting for humanitarian course, why the heck would you go bomb a church in ongoing service killing the members in it. Yes, Mandela did that.


When Nelson Mandela and the communist African National Congress (ANC) eventually took over South Africa, more than 70,000 whites were murdered and untold numbers have been robbed, raped and tortured.

Mandela has been on the US watch list and wasn't even allowed to enter the US until 2008.

Why celebrate a terrorist out of ignorance?

Where is emperor Halie sailise?

Threebear:
Where is Nnamdi Azikiwe, chinuea Achebe?
You don't include them because they're igbo?
Shame on you OP

Your case is different IJN

The list is incomplete without MUHAMMADU BUHARI from nigeria.