The small-towner started off as a model, then ventured into fashion, constructing Afro-urban clothing the unconventional way. Lebogang Makgale is a creative on a mission.



In Johannesburg’s cultural and creative nerve center that is Newtown, a chic district in the inner city with bustling clubs, cafés and art galleries, Lebogang Makgale’s fashion studio is an apt adornment.



The curious, vibrant young passers-by outside his door often stop to inspect his garments but to the 27-year-old fashionista, the uncontested center-piece in his bright blue studio is a hard-working sewing machine he bought for $34. It stands as a symbol of hope that gave fresh impetus to his life – and continues to be his career’s biggest investment, carefully-positioned in a corner enveloped by photographs from his first fashion collection. 



The space is otherwise strewn with clothes, fabric and accounting books. He is at ease with each of these objects. After all, his journey started studying accountancy at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), a venerable higher learning institution located close to where he is today.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Long before that, in high school, the Soweto-born creative artiste called himself ‘MacGale’, a play on his surname, which he artfully inscribed on classroom desks. The name stuck.



It must have been ordained. Today, that’s also the name of his fashion brand.



“A bookworm, shy and not very social” in school, fortunately, his interest in sport and athletics ensured he always had a coterie of friends and followers. But he also had another quality that endeared him to them – his interest in fashion and his distinct sartorial sense.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



&nbsp;He wanted to be a sports star, and his parents wanted him to become a chartered accountant, but this was the only talent – like his self-styled sobriquet – that stuck, and carried him through his growing years.



&nbsp;He pursued an extended diploma in accounting, but Makgale felt out of place; accounting was dull and gloomy in comparison with the myriad colors of the fashion world.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47849" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-scaled-300x450.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-scaled-600x900.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_1145-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></figure>



“About seven months into the course, a classmate told me that I am tall and had style and advised me to take on modeling. I took it seriously and joined an agency. They [the agencies] told me I am not tall enough, not masculine enough, but I persisted despite everything being shut out,” recalls Makgale when we meet him one warm January afternoon in Johennesburg.



Floyd Manotoano, known in South Africa’s emancipated fashion circuit as Floyd Avenue and winner of the GQ Scouting Menswear Competition in 2017, gave Makgale the modeling platform, and he didn’t look back.



His trips to designers’ studios for fittings and fashion shows only grew his innate love for couture.



“I was still enrolled at UJ but not going to class, I was going to studio. My transport fare and lunch money were used to buy fabric. We always had a plan showcasing across Johannesburg and always buying fabric. A friend also taught me how to thread a sewing machine. I was also introduced to styling and started consulting to make outfits for matric dances,” says Makgale.&nbsp;



The networking and mingling in the fashion world helped. He thereby met a tailor who sold him his sewing machine for $34. Now, all he needed was to perfect his craft.&nbsp;



He turned to technology, and characteristically for a youngster in the digital age, sought the help of online tutorials to learn to sew. He debuted with an ethnic Ndebele print collection.



In 2013, reality kicked in. His father asked for his varsity results. He had to break the news to him. That he was not keen on accounting, and he had been bunking classes. His concerned father asked him: “There are a lot of designers, how are you going to make money?”



He had enrolled at a fashion school with little knowledge and experience of the industry. But he was beginning to make an impression with his clothes.



Two years in, Makgale dropped out to focus on the business side of fashion. Being blogged about and being known on the streets wasn’t paying the bills; he had to make ends meet.



“I disappeared and disconnected from the street to focus on the brand, MacGale. I had to start from scratch. I had to create a client base, a target market. I slowly established myself as a professional fashion designer. That’s when the true identity of the brand evolved, in 2015,” he says.



During his off-grid period, he worked on a collection for BackToTheCity, South Africa’s biggest annual hip-hop and street culture festival. 2015 was a definitive year for him; he tailored an African-inspired street wear collection and incorporated it with plastic.



Soon after, fashion photographer Chris Saunders approached him. He was shooting for an international magazine profiling the coolest kids in Johannesburg. Saunders selected Makgale and that became part of a showcase at the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam.



&nbsp;Business started trickling in; Makgale was making matric dance suits, whilst polishing his designing skills.



“There was a time when that was the only kind of work I would be getting. It wasn’t fun, but it made business sense because the matric boys would refer everyone to me,” he recalls.



In 2015, he was also introduced to cycling by a long-time friend and athlete. His original love for sport was stoked. But there again, his love for fashion prevailed.



“Cycling equipment and kits are expensive. The color combinations didn’t make sense to me, so I made [comfortable clothes] I could cycle in that would also look cool. I started with jackets with pockets at the back, then shorts with tights that go underneath. I then decided to make a fashionable active wear collection,” he says.



About a year later, this got the attention of Moja Nation, an advertising agency working on the ‘Let Wonder Out’ campaign for Oreo cookies. This was going to be Makgale’s first corporate gig.



Despite the challenges he faced, Oreo loved his work and asked him to work on their second campaign. This time, he was more experienced and able to execute the whole order by himself.



He worked on it whilst helping Floyd Avenue with his 2017 South Africa Fashion Week collection.



“I worked with Lebo when I won the GQ award. I’ve known him for a long time; I even made his matric dance suit that was inspired by Kanye West. I’ve seen his growth; he has invested in his craft. I knew him as a student at UJ. Years later, we started meeting at fashion events and started working together,” says Floyd Avenue.



In 2017, Makgale was also part of a TV show, 100 Percent Youth, on SABC1, which documented his sourcing and creation processes.



“I came across striped fabric and fell in love with it. I made a striped jacket live on camera. Little did I know that was the beginning of an era, I started my stripe journey,” he recalls.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The stripes inspired his tailored suits, not of the traditional kind, but also motivated by waistcoats, and women’s wear like corsets and dungarees. This was his third official collection.&nbsp;



After 100 Percent Youth was aired, he started receiving more orders for his suits and he was soon appearing in season two of SABC’s fashion reality TV show Raw Silk. He made it to the top five and that too got him traction and customers.



By this point, he had developed working relationships with hip and happening local celebrities such as Khetsiwe Morgan, also known as DJ Doowap. Most of the women’s garments that Makgale creates are for her. He had never seen himself crafting womenswear until Raw Silk happened.



“I don’t like shopping at the mall; I’m about creating things that no one wears, so I was trying to find a tailor for the longest time. My boyfriend told me about Lebo’s collection, I met him and he is super-easy to work with. He is super-honest and tells me when something isn’t going to work. The first garment he made for me was for the Metro FM Awards in 2017, he made a three-piece garment using Swati fabric,” says DJ Doowap.



Makgale has expanded his business since and is working on costume design for local and international advertising campaigns. His journey started in an accounting classroom. But today, he is a passionate fashion entrepreneur on his way up. He may not be balancing books, but he is certainly on the money.

IMG_1130

The $34 Investment That Fashioned A Career

Tsholanang Mathibe never let her humble upbringing come in the way of her big dreams designing for the rich and famous in South Africa.



Picture this. Somewhere in Kanana, a rural village in the innards of South Africa’s North West province, a young girl takes a break from a routine day out playing in the fields with her friends, and accidentally leafs through the fashion pages of a glossy magazine, awe-struck by the style and design aesthetics of the big city. And she plans her life in that one moment.&nbsp;



Today, at 29, Tsholanang Mathibe is a fashion entrepreneur and founder of Blackmarble Designs in South Africa’s capital Pretoria, designing for brides and businesswomen, but still recalling that day in the sun when life shone her career path.



“I’ve never seen myself doing anything else from the age of nine,” says Mathibe.



The coronavirus-induced economic downturn in South Africa has no doubt affected her business as well, but it is a good time to reflect on how far she has come, and how much farther she wants to go.



“Lockdown has affected business greatly because most of our clients get garments done to attend special events. With [not many of those events happening], people are sceptical [about] purchasing costumed clothing,” she says.



Mathibe is now fashioning face-masks and recently rented out a wedding gown for a private ceremony.



Her formative years were tough. After high school, she moved to Pretoria for a B.Tech in Fashion Design at the Tshwane University of Technology. It was not easy adjusting to life in the city and the challenges of higher education. She even briefly mulled switching careers to deejaying, but her mother motivated her to stay the course.



“The fashion journey is tough, and the fact that people don’t talk about that side of the industry baffles me, because when I was in high school, I thought it was all glitz and&nbsp; glamor, until I got to varsity.”



When it came to finally starting her own business and choosing a name for her brand, she harked back to her maths classes in school, when her teacher, in discussing numbers, always referred to marbles.



Mathibe used it in conjunction with black, her favorite color, and Blackmarble Designs was born.



The maths teacher had also shown interest in the young creative that Mathibe was and arranged for her to meet with fashion designer, Ephraim Molingoane of Ephymol, a menswear fashion label.



Blackmarble was registered in 2013 when she was still in her final year, and commenced operations in 2014.



“I was helped by the fact that I won an industrial sewing machine for a fashion range I had produced during my third year, when students showcase their work. I won the best innovation award. That helped me start my business.”



In the first year of operation, Mathibe was working out of her aunt’s backroom in Soweto, sleeping alongside her equipment and waking up to work all day or night.



“I spent most of my time in that room doing mostly ready-to-wear garments to showcase and sell at social markets between Johannesburg and Cape Town. A client then referred South Africa’s popular radio deejay, DJ Sabby, to me. He needed an outfit for the J&amp;B MET. That was my first celebrity client,” she recalls.



The following year, she moved back to Pretoria to live with her partner. Business was picking up and she enjoyed making bespoke outfits rather than ready-to-wear. She also started promoting the brand online to reach a wider audience; things were getting better and the business had momentum.



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“I am still using my home as my studio, and in 2019, the business got its first bridal client and since then, that was the market we were mostly [focusing] on before the lockdown,” she says.



Her first client for a bridal outfit was Lindiwe Sibiloane, who had seen a matric dance garment that Mathibe had designed.



“I was looking for something very similar to that [matric dance garment]; then I asked her to do a bridal gown, and she did it. I am still happy about it, everyone was raving about that dress; they still are,” says Sibiloane.



Mathibe’s bridal gowns cost upwards of $1,000.



So far, Blackmarble Designs has also dressed FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 alumna such as South African actor Thuso Mbedu and Reabetswe Ngwane, co-founder and MD of Kreamfields, who incidentally, Mathibe has known from primary school.



Mathibe dressed Ngwane for the glamorous Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo social event in 2019.



“I told her I needed a dress. I gave her a brief the week of the event. I sent her a few pictures I had seen on Pinterest. A few days later, the dress was done to the ‘T’ and didn’t need any adjustments, save for a button,” says Ngwane.



Somewhere in Kanana, a young girl must be reading this article now and being suitably inspired, just like Mathibe had been, all those years ago.&nbsp;

DSCF8086

A Day In The Fields, A Lifetime In Fashion

Join the conversation: Submit questions and see agenda below.&nbsp;



This livestream is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.curtindubai.ac.ae/?utm_source=Forbes&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=u30live">Curtin University Dubai</a> and <a href="https://www.lancaster.edu.gh/?utm_source=Forbes&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=u30live">Lancaster University Ghana</a>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Forbes Africa: In conversation with U30 Class of 2020" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYTu4L8-DYM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



[The stream is slated to start at 3:00 pm CAT on 7th April. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player below at that time.]



This virtual event is free to attend. Register your interest <a href="https://mailchi.mp/forbesafrica.com/u302020">here</a>.



Confirmed panelists



<ul><li>Shamim Nabuuma</li><li>Keitumetsi Qhali</li><li>Paul Makaya</li><li>Thobo Khathola</li></ul>

Watch live: FORBES AFRICA’s Under30 in conversation with the managing editor — Leadership & Management Amid Crisis

IMG_5222

Forbes Africa #30Under30 List: Leading The Charge

FORBES AFRICA is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are building brands, creating jobs and transforming the continent, to join our Under 30 community for 2020.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



JOHANNESBURG, 07 January 2020: Attention entrepreneurs,
creatives, sport stars and technology geeks — the 2020 FORBES AFRICA Under 30
nominations are now officially open. 



The
FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is the most-anticipated list of game-changers on
the continent and this year, we are on the hunt for 30 of Africa’s brightest
achievers under the age of 30 spanning these categories: Business, Technology,
Creatives and Sport.



Each
year, FORBES AFRICA looks for resilient self-starters, innovators,
entrepreneurs and disruptors who have the acumen to stay the course in their
chosen field, come what may.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="685" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1024x685.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42458" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-600x401.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-768x514.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Past honorees include Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Karabo Poppy, Kwesta, Nomzamo Mbatha, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Busi Mkhumbuzi Pooe, Henrich Akomolafe, Davido, Yemi Alade, Vere Shaba, Nasty C and WizKid.



What’s different this year is that we have whittled down the list to just 30 finalists, making the competition stiff and the vetting process even more rigorous.&nbsp;



Says
FORBES AFRICA’s Managing Editor, Renuka Methil: “The start of a new decade
means the unraveling of fresh talent on the African continent. I can’t wait to
see the potential billionaires who will land up on our desks. Our coveted sixth
annual Under 30 list will herald some of the decade’s biggest names in business
and life.” 



If you think you have what it takes to be on this year’s list or know an entrepreneur, creative, technology entrepreneur or sports star under 30 with a proven track-record on the continent – introduce them to FORBES AFRICA by applying or submitting your nomination.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="724" height="1024" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-724x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42456" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-724x1024.jpg 724w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-300x424.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-600x849.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-212x300.jpg 212w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-768x1087.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1.jpg 1357w" sizes="(max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px" /></figure>



NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS CRITERIA:



Business
and Technology categories



<ol><li>Must be an
 entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2020</li><li>Should have a legitimate
 REGISTERED business on the continent</li><li>Business/businesses
 should be two years or older</li><li>Nominees must have risked
 own money and have a social impact</li><li>Must be profit generating</li><li>Must employ people in
 Africa</li><li>All applications must be
 in English</li><li>Should be available and
 prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Sports
category



<ol><li>Must be a sports person
 aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2020</li><li>Must be representing an
 African team</li><li>Should have a proven
 track record of no less than two years</li><li>Should be making
 significant earnings</li><li>Should have some
 endorsement deals</li><li>Entrepreneurship and
 social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be
 in English</li><li>Should be available and
 prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Creatives
category



<ol><li>Must be a creative aged 29
 or younger on 31 March 2020</li><li>Must be from or based in
 Africa</li><li>Should be making significant
 earnings</li><li>Should have a proven
 creative record of no less than two years</li><li>Must have social
 influence</li><li>Entrepreneurship and
 social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be
 in English</li><li>Should be available and
 prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Your
entry should include:



<ul><li>Country</li><li>Full Names</li><li>Company name/Team you are
 applying with</li><li>A short motivation on why
 you should be on the list</li><li>A short profile on self
 and company</li><li>Links to published
 material / news clippings about nominee </li><li>All social media handles</li><li>Contact information</li><li>High-res images of
 yourself</li></ul>



Applications and nominations must be sent via email to FORBES AFRICA journalist and curator of the list, Karen Mwendera, on <a href="mailto:Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com">Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com</a> 



Nominations
close on 3 February 2020.

poster 2-2

Nominations Open for FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 class of 2020

This year marks the fifth milestone annual FORBES AFRICA 30 under 30 list, and we have introduced a new category of game-changers. Together, they are 120 in total across four sectors: business, technology, creatives and sport. Meet the class of 2019, a stellar collection of entrepreneurs and innovators rewriting rules and taking bold new risks to take Africa to the future. 



<h5>&#8211;<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/30under30-business-category-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="#30Under30: Business Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)">#30Under30: Business Category 2019</a></h5>



<h5>&#8211;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="30Under30: Creatives Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/30under30-creatives-category-2019/" target="_blank">#30Under30: Creatives Category 2019</a></h5>



<h5>&#8211;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="#30Under30: Technology Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/30under30-technology-category-2019/" target="_blank">#30Under30: Technology Category 2019</a></h5>



<h5>&#8211;<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2019/07/01/30under30-sport-category-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="#30Under30: Sport Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)">#30Under30: Sport Category 2019</a></h5>



<ul><li>Words: Karen Mwendera&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul><li>Edited by: Unathi Shologu</li></ul>



<ul><li>&nbsp;Assistant: Garreth Mtuwa&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul><li>Creative direction by: Lucy Nkosi&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul><li>Lead photography by: Motlabana Monnakgotla</li></ul>



<ul><li>Co-photography by: Gypseenia Lion&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



Judges of the 30 Under 30 class of 2019



The category experts whose role it was to survey all finalists of the 2019 30 Under 30 list, rank them and provide commentary on each candidate:



<ul><li>Business: Anthea Gardner, Founder and Managing Partner at Cartesian Capital</li></ul>



<ul><li>Technology: Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at University of Johannesburg; he also deputises President Cyril Ramaphosa on the South African Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. </li></ul>



<ul><li>Creatives: Yasmin Furmie, creative and business partner of fashion brand SiSi The Collection, South Africa</li></ul>



<ul><li>Sport: Nick Said, the Africa sports correspondent for Thomson Reuters </li></ul>



<ul><li>Audit partner: SNG Grant Thornton</li></ul>

IMG_7141

Making Of The 2019 Forbes Africa #30Under30 Cover

THE FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 LIST IS THE most-anticipated list of game-changers on the continent and this year, we bring you 120 of Africa’s brightest achievers under the age of 30 and for the first time, four categories featuring 30 in each: <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/#30under30:-business-category-2019/">Business</a>, <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/#30under30:-technology-category-2019/">Technology</a>, <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/#30under30:-creatives-category-2019/">Creatives </a>and <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2019/07/01/30under30-sport-category-2019/">Sport</a>.



From elevator manufacturing, solar energy design, to
under-30s conquering the Alps and selling out the Apollo Theatre,&nbsp; this year’s list demonstrates how
enterprising and extraordinary the African youth is.



This list celebrates these pioneers who are building brands,
creating jobs, and innovating, leading, transforming and contributing to new
industries, in turn, changing the continent.&nbsp;




“The future belongs to Africa and the future belongs to its
youth,” says Jason Pau, Chief of Staff for International to billionaire Jack
Ma, co-founder of Alibaba. He says the journey for young entrepreneurs,
especially in Africa, is not always easy. Many startups fall by the wayside due
to a lack of resources. In South Africa, it is estimated that the small
enterprise failure rate is at almost 80% within the first three years.



Chances at success are very slim, yet Africans continue to
see opportunity where many do not. The select few celebrated in this list
represent those individuals who continue to persevere against the odds. It also
serves as a reminder that it is possible. 



“People don’t really give enough time or spend enough time
in providing the right environment for entrepreneurs to grow,” Pau tells FORBES
AFRICA.



So if entrepreneurship is the answer, ensuring that an
environment is conducive for business sustainability is imperative.



Together with our audit partner for this list, SNG Grant
Thornton, the senior editorial team worked night and day scrutinizing each
candidate. For entrepreneurs, we delved into how profitable their businesses
were and if they showed signs of potential growth and sustainability.



However, not only does the list look at the financial impact
of each candidate, but also their reputation, resilience and ability to be role
models to other young Africans. 



For FORBES AFRICA, this meant endless background checks,
fact-checks, emails, phone calls and research, sifting through over 1,000
nominations that poured in over the last few months. Lastly, the one factor
that also played a role in the determination of the candidates was their online
presence. Followers are a valuable new currency, and today’s achievers have
found a way to leverage off them. This year, when FORBES named Kylie Jenner the
world’s youngest self-made billionaire, it observed that her business was built
mainly because of her social media and fan following. Many on our list have
also been able to build on this in their own way. The creatives and sport stars
lead in this regard.



This year, Sport is the newest category, opening up the list
to the game-changers who are also Africa’s next generation of leaders. They
have won awards, broken records, made social investments and pushed the
boundaries by challenging the status quo on policies in sports. However, some
of the challenges they still face include lack of resources, a gender pay gap,
and an immense pool of untapped talent not yet given a chance to be in the
limelight. 



But no matter where they are from, these 120 list-makers
share one common goal, and that is to build a better Africa.



Being an under-30 myself, I am proud to have curated the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 class of 2019. At the time of going to press, all facts on the following pages were verified to be correct.



 The list is in no particular order:





<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



This year marks the fifth milestone annual FORBES AFRICA 30 under 30 list, and we have introduced a new category of game-changers. Together, they are 120 in total across four sectors: business, technology, creatives and sport. Meet the class of 2019, a stellar collection of entrepreneurs and innovators rewriting rules and taking bold new risks to take Africa to the future. 



<h5>&#8211;<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/30under30-business-category-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="#30Under30: Business Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)">#30Under30: Business Category 2019</a></h5>



<h5>&#8211;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="30Under30: Creatives Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/30under30-creatives-category-2019/" target="_blank">#30Under30: Creatives Category 2019</a></h5>



<h5>&#8211;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="#30Under30: Technology Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2019/07/01/30under30-technology-category-2019/" target="_blank">#30Under30: Technology Category 2019</a></h5>



<h5>&#8211;<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2019/07/01/30under30-sport-category-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="#30Under30: Sport Category 2019 (opens in a new tab)">#30Under30: Sport Category 2019</a></h5>



<ul><li>Words: Karen Mwendera&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul><li>Edited by: Unathi Shologu</li></ul>



<ul><li>&nbsp;Assistant: Garreth Mtuwa&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul><li>Creative direction by: Lucy Nkosi&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul><li>Lead photography by: Motlabana Monnakgotla</li></ul>



<ul><li>Co-photography by: Gypseenia Lion&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



Judges of the 30 Under 30 class of 2019



The category experts whose role it was to survey all finalists of the 2019 30 Under 30 list, rank them and provide commentary on each candidate:



<ul><li>Business: Anthea Gardner, Founder and Managing Partner at Cartesian Capital</li></ul>



<ul><li>Technology: Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at University of Johannesburg; he also deputises President Cyril Ramaphosa on the South African Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. </li></ul>



<ul><li>Creatives: Yasmin Furmie, creative and business partner of fashion brand SiSi The Collection, South Africa</li></ul>



<ul><li>Sport: Nick Said, the Africa sports correspondent for Thomson Reuters </li></ul>



<ul><li>Audit partner: SNG Grant Thornton</li></ul>

30under30

Forbes Africa #30Under30 list: Business, Technology, Creatives and Sport

sport

#30Under30: Sport Category 2019

Creatives

#30Under30: Creatives Category 2019

tech

#30Under30: Technology Category 2019

Business

#30Under30: Business Category 2019

Forbes Africa is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are building brands, creating jobs and representing and transforming the continent.



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FORBES AFRICA is
on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are building brands, creating
jobs and representing and transforming the continent, to join the Under 30
community for 2019.



Each year,
FORBES AFRICA looks for resilient self-starters, innovators, entrepreneurs and
disruptors who have the acumen to stay the course in their chosen field, come
what may. 



Past honorees
include Kwesta, Nomzamo Mbatha, Ink Eze, Isaya Yunge, Jokate Mwegelo, Yannick
Nzonde, Gilbert Eugene Peters, Yemi Alade, Vere Shaba, Kevin Lubega, Davido,
Rivo Mhlari, Nasty C and Wiz Kid.



&nbsp;“2019 will
be the fifth anniversary of the FORBES AFRICA Under 30 list. Every year, there
emerges, in the continent of a billion-plus people, young luminaries who are
blazing a trail to the finish line, and the idea of the list is to unearth and
uncover them on their way up,” says FORBES AFRICA’s Managing Editor, Methil
Renuka.



In addition to
the three categories – Creatives, Technology and Business in 2018, this year, FORBES
AFRICA introduces a new category — Sports.



&nbsp;“Leaders
are also born in the world of sport. It requires grit and determination to be a
game-changer and they definitely need to be celebrated early,” says Renuka.



If you think you
have what it takes to be on this year’s list or know an entrepreneur, creative,
technology entrepreneur or sports star under 30 with a proven track-record on
the continent – introduce them to FORBES AFRICA by submitting your nomination.



Nominations
close on 15 February 2019.



NOMINATIONS
CRITERIA:



Business and
Technology categories



<ol><li>Must bean entrepreneur aged 29 or younger on 30 June 2019</li><li>Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent</li><li>Business or businesses should be two years or older</li><li>Nominees must have risked own money and have a social impact</li><li>Must be profit generating</li><li>Must employ people in Africa</li><li>All applications must be in English</li><li>Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Sports
Category



<ol><li>Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 30 June 2019</li><li>Must be representing an African team</li><li>Should have a proven track record of no less than two years</li><li>Should be making significant earnings</li><li>Should have some endorsement deals</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be in English</li><li>Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Creatives



<ol><li>Must be a creative aged 29 or younger on 30 June 2019</li><li>Must be from or based in Africa</li><li>Should be making significant earnings</li><li>Should have a proven creative record of no less than two years</li><li>Must have social influence</li><li>Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be in English</li><li>Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Your entry should include:



<ul><li>Country</li><li>Full Name</li><li>Company name/Team</li><li>A short reason why they should be an Under 30</li><li>Links of published material about nominee</li><li>Contact information</li></ul>



Share your photographs, via email. 



Nominations must be sent to: 



 <a href="mailto:Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com">Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com</a> and<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="mailto:30under30@abn360.com" target="_blank">30under30@abn360.com</a>



All nominees
will be vetted by a panel, FORBES AFRICA editors and the editorial team.

Forbes_30under30

Forbes Africa Under 30 Opens Nominations For 2019

The 2018 FORBES AFRICA Under 30 is our authentic and most definitive list of Africa’s most promising young change-makers. This year is our fourth edition of the list and for the first time, inspired by the growing number of young men and women entrepreneurs, we have expanded it to bring you 30 game-changers, all under the age of 30, in each the three sectors – business, technology and creative. The 90 in total are challenging conventions and rewriting the rules for the next generation of entrepreneurs, creatives and tech gurus.
We put in months of rigorous research, sifting through over 600 nominations, vetting them for weeks, verifying and investigating them. We favored entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and took into account their business size, revenue, location, potential, struggles, social impact and resilience. A panel of judges then debated the final 90. You may not know many of their names now and they may not be richest people in Africa, but they could be the billionaires of tomorrow gracing our future covers. This compilation is exciting, inspiring and offers a sneak peek into Africa’s future. Meet the class of 2018. The list is in no particular order.
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2018/06/04/under-30-business/">Under 30 Business</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2018/06/04/under-30-technology/">Under 3o Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/30-under-30/2018/06/04/under-30-creatives/">Under 30 Creatives</a></li>
</ol>

Category: Under 30

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

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