From Hollywood exports and Grammy artists to award-winning ideas that can save the world, Africa is not only diverse in its people but also in its industries and creativity. For FORBES AFRICA hundredth issue (since the magazine’s inception in 2011), we decided to curate a list celebrating these very ideas, inventions, and influential role models that have spelled Africa’s growth over the last decade.



Having been in the film industry for over 30 years, award-winning South African actor Connie Ferguson is on the list for her impact as an actor, producer, and filmmaker. In 2018, she also graced the cover of FORBES WOMAN AFRICA. She talks to FORBES AFRICA about being included on the icons list.



Correct us if we are wrong but you have had almost 30 years in the acting industry and you have been hugely successful-what/who do you owe your success to?&nbsp; I’ve been in the industry for 31 years now and literally grew up in it and with it! I owe my success to simple perseverance, hard work and never taking anything for granted! Faith and prayer have also been a big part of it! And the people who have believed in me and cheered me on along the way, especially my family, are the reason I never gave up even when times were hard.



 What have been some of your highlights as both an actress and businesswoman?&nbsp; My highlights as an actress are definitely my time at Generations, a show that allowed me the opportunity to build my personal brand, my role as Mavis in Rockville, our debut show as executive producers, and my current role of Harriet Khoza on The Queen. Although the different awards received over the years are humbling and appreciated, the loyal fans and viewers that diligently follow and appreciate my work, are who make it all worthwhile.&nbsp; As a business woman, being the first SA TV personality to launch a perfume in 2008, and a body care range Connie Body Lotion and Connie Men in 2015. Winning the Shoprite Supplier Of The Year Award in 2015 was the cherry on top.&nbsp; Ferguson Films, a production company I own and run with my husband Shona, is also not only a highlight but the biggest blessing! We are able to create work for a hundred plus in a very tough economic climate. All our shows have performed exceedingly well, and we are truly grateful to the people who follow and enjoy our work. They inspire us to keep the creative juices flowing.



 In your opinion what do you think makes an icon?&nbsp; Someone that is not only aspirational but inspirational, that is memorable and leaves a mark wherever they go. 



Can you comment on us at FORBES AFRICA considering you an icon.  I appreciate the honor. I didn’t set out to become an icon. I let my work speak for itself and endeavor to empower and touch as many lives as I can positively. The titles and accolades that come with that are a bonus!



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2021/04/01/the-100th-issue-100-innovations-inventions-icons-from-africa/">For more on the 100 Innovations, Inventions &amp; Icons From Africa (Forbes Africa)</a>



Get the best of Forbes Africa sent straight to your inbox with the latest insights and inspiration from experts across the continent.&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/cAlInb">Sign up here.</a>

IMG-20180907-WA0012

‘Success is a choice! Rise and grind!’- says Connie Ferguson

jpeeeggg

THE 100th ISSUE: 100 Innovations, Inventions & Icons From Africa

FRANCE-AFRICA-FORUM

African Of The Year: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

FORBES AFRICA&#8217;s photojournalist on what it feels to be diagnosed with the coronavirus. He says he’s lucky to be well enough to see through the stigma and document his experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



On June 5, at 12.44PM, I received a text message on my phone that I had tested positive to the novel coronavirus.



I had been writing about the virus and its effect on small business since the lockdown started in South Africa, but never once thought I would become my own subject this soon.



On the warm Friday afternoon, I had been writing a story on how entrepreneurs are battling the economic downturn when the message came with the words ‘Mr Motlabana Monnakgotla, kindly note…’ and figured it might be yet another promotional message on a new product or policy.



Originally, my symptoms had started with a flu the previous week, and it was definitely more potent than any flu I have endured all my life. I was weak, my forehead had a rash, my temperature was up and down, and I had never sneezed so much in my life.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45914" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-scaled-300x400.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-scaled-600x800.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20200608_163307-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption>Self-portrait, in isolation at home in Soweto</figcaption></figure>



I did what I would normally do when sick; I got myself medicines from a local chemist and took rest but I was always tired.



It was not until I received a call from my editor and she heard my deep nasal voice, and insisted that I immediately get myself tested for Covid-19 that I thought I may have contracted the virus. I had been in denial until then.



I was saddened that within the 5km radius where I live in Soweto, Johannesburg’s sprawling urban township, clinics had no test-kits or equipment and it had been the case for a while. After a few days of search, I eventually found a clinic that did Covid-19 tests, not far from Baragwanath Hospital. The results were out the very next day.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">&#8220;I have witnessed criticism and judgement and learned that there is surely a stigma around the virus, just like HIV/Aids.&#8221;</blockquote>



Between Friday and now, I have gone through a wave of emotions and experiences. I have witnessed criticism and judgement and learned that there is surely a stigma around the virus, just like HIV/Aids. I had communicated my condition to close friends and family on WhatsApp groups hoping this would make them more aware of the gravity of the disease because someone so close was now infected.



But there were those who twisted the knife in the wound further by reiterating that I am “carrying the virus” and saying I would die of it. The stigma around the virus is real.



On the bright side, I have also made some new friends since opening up about my condition. In the past 72 hours, I have received enough messages of faith and love.



As I write this in my room in isolation, with new eyes, I look at everything around me that I had taken for-granted, such as the framed pictures of beaming family members on the walls in the living room. Life is short, but it’s great to be alive.

T 610

My First 72 Hours As Covid-19 Positive

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<iframe loading="lazy" title="In conversation with Ethiopia&#039;s first female president" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uS77cHdLoK4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Ethiopia&#8217;s first female president, Sahle-Work Zewde, spoke to FORBES AFRICA&#8217;s Managing Editor, Renuka Methil, on the country&#8217;s plans to combat Covid-19 and resuscitate one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.



Zewde, listed as one of Africa’s ‘50 Most Powerful Women’ in the March issue of FORBES AFRICA, says while the virus didn&#8217;t warrant the nation going into complete lockdown, it has hit some sectors of the East African country&#8217;s economy, affecting its GDP growth. 



In early May, the government announced a package to bolster healthcare spending, food distribution, rebuild SMMEs, etc to support the country&#8217;s most vulnerable. Zewde also shares her views on women in the front lines, as well as reimagining education.

Renu and Zewde

Ethiopia’s First Female President On Plans To Combat Covid-19 And Resuscitate The Economy

At the 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal on March 6, DJ Zinhle shone in the spotlight, talking about her journey from rock-bottom to record-breaking. 



As the
woman responsible for South Africa’s My Name Is hit song
makes her way onto the stage, there is rapturous applause from a 1,000 strong
audience, gathered at Durban’s international convention center for the 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit.



Zinhle
Jiyane, popularly known as DJ Zinhle, walks up to the solo stage with her
four-year-old daughter, Kairo Forbes, who she calls one of her “biggest
achievements”.



South
Africa’s award-winning DJ and media personality presents an inspirational
speech during the summit’s #SPOTLIGHT session.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.forbeswomanafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Forbes-LWS2020KZN-3991-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41543"/></figure>



“You’re lazy. You’re extremely lazy,” cites Zinhle as the words that shaped her into the woman she is today.



As a
child, Zinhle, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, was heartbroken every time she was
called lazy.



“I knew I was a creative at heart. My lack of interest in limited career options and the mundane robotic task of drying the dishes didn’t really appeal to me. That’s the thing that got me the title ‘vila voco’ (meaning an extremely lazy person in English).”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



Despite
that, Zinhle went on to pursue a BCom in marketing
at the University of Johannesburg. Graduating at the top of her class gave her the first dose of confidence.



“It was
possible. Although ‘vila voco’ might have been ringing in my head, at least I knew that it was possible to put in
the hard work and get
good results. That gave me all the confidence I need to
take over the world.
And that’s exactly what I did.”



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbeswomanafrica.com/woman/2020/03/11/lws2020kzn-the-forbes-woman-africa-2020-leading-women-summit-sets-the-bar-high-for-2021/">The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA 2020 Leading Women Summit Sets The Bar High For 2021</a>



Her new
found self-assurance propelled her to do more.



“In
2009, I launched Fuse Academy, the first and only DJ female academy in South Africa. Ten years later, the academy has
produced working DJs in
the industry that have contributed largely to the overall
entertainment
industry.”



After
eight years of resilience in the music industry, she finally scored her big break. 



“I had a song called My Name Is featuring Busiswa which became one of the biggest songs in 2012, not only in South Africa, but in most parts of Africa. This song was special to me because for the first time I knew what real success was. It was an exciting time for me as a woman”.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.forbeswomanafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Forbes-LWS2020KZN-3999-1024x681.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41542"/></figure>



Music
has always been the DJ’s first love, so while one hand was on the decks, she
tried the other hand at entrepreneurship.



“In 2013, I launched my jewelry business, Era By DJ Zinhle. Seven years later, my pride and joy is the first black female owned business to distribute through American Swiss.”



The hit
maker has been vocal about the importance of female empowerment. Her
involvement in a project seeking to do just this inspired her to put pen to
paper.



“In
2017, I joined a very important project called ‘It Takes A Village’ on SABC1 focusing on 11
young women who needed to deal with the demons
of their past. My role was to help them through this process, and help them find a better future for themselves. Spending time
with these incredible
ladies inspired me to write a book.”



Along with Nokubonga Mbanga, Zinhle published a book called Meeting Your Power that went on to become a best-seller.



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/arts/2019/04/10/noami-campbell-has-big-plans-for-africa/">Naomi Campbell Has Big Plans For Africa</a>



Her new
hit Umlilo featuring Mvzzle &amp; Rethabile is her
latest achievement. The song, which means ‘fire’, was one of the biggest hits
to come out of South Africa in 2019.



“I’m very
proud of this song. Umlilo was out for
three months and had already reached platinum. It had over five million streams
in two months. Over and above that, it was crowned the crossover song by Metro
FM and many other radio stations. The last time Metro FM had a female-led song
as the crossover song of the year was in 1997 when Brenda Fassie took it with Vulindlela.”



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.forbeswomanafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pic-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41518"/></figure>



On March 6, Zinhle also won the 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Entertainer Award.

Forbes LWS2020KZN-3918

DJ Zinhle: The ‘Lazy Kid’ Who Achieved Platinum Success

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 loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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="auto, (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 loading="lazy" decoding="async" 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="auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px" /></figure>



NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS CRITERIA:



Business
and Technology categories



<ol class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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

As part of FORBES AFRICA’s ongoing eighth anniversary celebrations, we present a CEO Rhetorical Analysis by Anahita Negarandeh, a Harvard University Extension School student, on FORBES AFRICA’s founder and publisher, Rakesh Wahi. The CEO Rhetorical Analysis researches and analyzes the rhetoric — the effective messaging or speech — of a CEO and global business leader. The values chosen to explore in the CEO’s rhetoric are a key part of this article.



This
rhetorical analysis examines the messaging of Rakesh Wahi, Founder of CNBC
Africa and FORBES AFRICA. By consulting with approximately 10 executives from
Wahi’s global team, this rhetoric examines four of his leadership values such
as courage and determination, collaboration, passion for education, and
equality. 



Courage and determination 



Wahi
is a well-respected global businessman based in Dubai and South Africa who has
been involved with approximately 20 corporate development projects. He
continues to grow his establishments in more than 25 offices around the world.
As a leader in media, IT, telecoms, and education, Wahi has built companies in
22 countries, employing over 1,000 employees. Prior to moving to the UAE, Wahi
served in the Indian Armed Forces for approximately nine years and was awarded
the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President of India in 1985 for distinguished
services to the country in peacetime. During his army service, at age 23, he
was part of India’s second base establishment in Antarctica where a near-death
experience changed his life. 



“But I realized at that age that life is not something you take for granted, therefore, whatever you want in this world, you have to set out to achieve it. At the end of the day, you are either there or not there; if you are not there, and if there are unfulfilled dreams, they will always be unfulfilled.” (Wahi) 



READ MORE: <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2016/10/01/5-minutes-rakesh-wahi/">5 Minutes With Rakesh Wahi</a>



Wahi’s
executive team members, who have known him for approximately 20-30 years,
believe this statement. Based on four personal interviews conducted for the
purpose of this analysis with Wahi’s global leadership team, Wahi “lives this
statement in his everyday life” (Martin). Many acknowledged that he is continuously
determined to fulfil his dreams. Lars Jeppesen, Wahi’s Co-Founder of Tech One
Global, states that “Wahi dreams and then puts all efforts to pursue the
dreams… he is still building universities, creating new businesses, and pursues
his dreams” (Jeppesen). Wahi is known to thrive on challenges and never gives
up on achieving his goals even when faced with obstacles and challenges. 



A
leader’s personal life experiences and adversities play a major role in one’s
values and ethics. In Wahi’s case, facing death at a young age motivated him to
pursue his dreams to become realities. This is an admirable value for
entrepreneurs, especially the younger generation. As a role model, Wahi teaches
them to never give up despite challenges. 



Collaboration &amp; Importance of People 



Wahi
has learned valuable business lessons from his experience in the army, most
importantly, the core lesson taught in the military about the importance of people
and looking after them. His 2016 autobiography, Be a Lion, dedicated a section to The Importance of People.
Books have had a great impact on Wahi, specifically the philosophy of reason
from Ayn Rand while he was fighting for his life from the military
life-threatening incident. As an advocate in the influence of others, he
reiterates in his book, “That it is difficult to achieve anything without the
involvement, commitment, loyalty, and assistance of others. When you come
across a person with whom you can see a future, you must grasp the opportunity
and mutually make the most of it.” (Wahi Ch. 1, location 173, par. 4) 



Wahi executes his philosophy in numerous examples throughout his career, especially one with Daniel Adkins who is now CEO of Wahi’s Transnational Academic Group Middle East. When asked to describe a situation reflecting Wahi’s collaboration with and valuing people, this quality has directly been experienced, Adkins states, “I am probably the best possible example of this philosophy.” (Adkins). He describes his hiring experience entering the organization in late 2009 and rise from the most entry level position at one of Wahi’s Dubai-based universities, Murdoch University, to now CEO for the Middle East operations. 



“Throughout
this entire process, Wahi has provided both direct mentorship and mentorship by
example and has made sure that I did the same for my entire team, which has
produced fantastic organisational results including no turnover with regret for
six years.” (Adkins) 



READ MORE: <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/focus/2019/03/01/the-most-defining-aspects-of-our-lives/">The Most Defining Aspects Of Our Lives</a>



As
stated in Lancaster University Ghana’s Senior Management biography, Wahi’s
“core focus is on long term corporate and leadership development through
building strong management teams”. Adkins reiterates this statement in an
interview: “Wahi absolutely lives this philosophy and demands it from his
entire management team… the people are the business and there is nothing more
important” (Adkins). 



Wahi
is known to have a special gift and skill to find loyal people and never
hesitates to show appreciation to people’s loyalty. Wahi learned this quality
from his role model parents, a father who was a military, corporate, and family
hero and a mother who was not only Mother Teresa’s friend, but a genuine giver
in life. In other words, Wahi is a “go back to your roots leader” (Al
Abadilah). Wahi was brought up in a giving family and now gives back as a
leader. Because of the people-oriented philosophies followed in his
organizations, employee turnaround rates are phenomenally low. Everyone is
treated like family and the principles presented in Ken Blanchard’s book, Gung-Ho!, are lived by
management. 



Wahi’s
philosophy about collaboration and importance of people is truly refreshing in
a CEO and business leader. In today’s individualistic world, leaders like Wahi
who dedicate a major part of their leadership role to importance of people is a
rare finding. Such values must be celebrated and promoted in all aspects of
business worldwide. 



Passion for education 



As
a sought-after speaker at educational institutions on leadership and
entrepreneurship, Wahi received an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science from
the International University of Management by the Minister of Education of
Namibia. He was also appointed as an IATF2018 Goodwill Ambassador by The Trade
Finance for Africa. He personally learned and continuously teaches patience to
other entrepreneurs in emerging markets. In an interview with CNBC Africa, The Entrepreneur’s
Entrepreneur: Rakesh Wahi,about his book Be a Lion, Wahi
shares he is “extremely passionate about education”. His vision is to set up
educational centers of excellence across Africa incorporating new innovative
industries such as online and hybrid aspects of education with traditional
classroom environment. He has mentored many people in his leadership journey,
but believes mentorship benefits both parties as he states in an interview with
CNBC Africa: “Within a group, you always learn from each other. Mentorship is
not a one-way journey, you learn every day from your peers, subordinates,
seniors… If you are a student, you will remain a student all your life. You
must be like a sponge, no matter your age.” (Wahi) 



According to Adkins and Martin, executive partners at Wahi’s educational business sectors, Wahi lives his statement daily. Not only does he mentor his staff, he also learns from those on his team whether they are junior level or senior. Wahi has created a business culture amongst all sectors in a way that everyone learns from one another. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="681" height="1024" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rakesh-Wahi-035-681x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42238" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rakesh-Wahi-035-681x1024.jpg 681w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rakesh-Wahi-035-300x451.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rakesh-Wahi-035-600x902.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rakesh-Wahi-035-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rakesh-Wahi-035-768x1155.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rakesh-Wahi-035.jpg 1277w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /></figure>



“There
is no rank in the discussion. It is both intuitively understood and explicitly
expressed that everyone’s ideas deserve equal consideration and we have made
company-altering decisions based on input received from junior team members
when those ideas turned out to be the best… It is absolutely the culture.”
(Adkins) 



Jeppesen,
now Co-Founder of a tech enterprise with Wahi, states in an interview, “Wahi
has been my mentor since we met 17 years back… Later, when we co-founded Tech
One Global, he was leading our board and mentored me personally as the CEO.”
(Jeppesen). 



The
culture of learning and mentorship from one another has saved the business in
an example of a termination deal of one of Dubai’s university partnerships with
a junior member of the team’s approach. This is proof that critical decisions
are made, as a group despite rank levels. An important aspect of Wahi’s work is
helping the leadership team rise to the next level. 



Equality 



Wahi’s
decision to launch FORBES WOMAN AFRICA was to provide a platform for women
entrepreneurs’ stories and the overwhelming waitlist of these stories in FORBES
AFRICA. 



“The
main reason was that as a startup magazine, FORBES AFRICA was overwhelmed with
a waiting list of stories from 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa; by virtue of
women having a late head start in the business world, the stories were largely
dominated by men who had done great things to transform Africa.” (Wahi) 



In a short period of time, the magazine has risen to be the material of choice for inspirational women stories, with fantastic content being produced. Equality is discussed in an article by FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, Celebrating Five Years with The Founder and Publisher: Rakesh Wahi. 



“We
have discussed the trials and tribulations of women in the workplace and become
a champion for equality. The word ‘equality’ is a living value for us at the
ABN Group and I am so proud that we have been able to personify our values
through affirmative action.” (Wahi) 



READ MORE: <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/focus/2019/04/01/equality-as-a-living-value/">Equality As A Living Value</a>



According
to a partner of over 35 years, Rajiv Podar, “Wahi has always respected and
admired hard-working women and a firm believer of equality at workplace and
home… Most of his senior colleagues are women too” (Podar). In an example from
a former female executive at one of Wahi’s first ventures 20 years ago in
Dubai, Maha Al Abadilah discusses the value of equality she experienced as a
woman working with Wahi. “I have never experienced anything that distinguished
a man and a woman, nothing but full respect and treating us with our pure
qualifications and titles.” (Al Abadilah.14:19). 



Wahi
repeatedly demonstrates his firm belief in his statements amongst his team
members. When a decision is to be made for an important matter, all team
members discuss as equals. “It is both intuitively understood and explicitly
expressed that everyone’s ideas deserve equal consideration.” (Adkins).
Evidently, not only the value of equality is present within his ABN Group
amongst women in the workplace, but also amongst all employees. Gender and rank
are clearly not considered in any team discussions and decisions. 



Conclusion 



Wahi’s leadership approach and personality embodies unique values such as a life-changing incident, the collaboration and importance of people, a passion for education, and equality. As he was personally approached for research purposes of this analysis, he promptly welcomed connections with over 10 executives and partners of his global team who were all eager to help. Research results and personal interviews with warm responses from his team members and partners portray all qualities examined in this analysis positively. Wahi lives his statements and is a true people-oriented leader. 



Works
cited: 



Adkins,
Daniel. “Re: Business Paper Inquiry &#8211; Harvard University.” Received by Anahita
Negarandeh, 12 Dec. 2018. 



Africa,
Forbes Woman. “Celebrating Five Years With The Founder &amp; Publisher: Rakesh
Wahi.” Forbes Africa, 27 Sept. 2018,
www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2018/09/27/celebrating-five-years-with-the-founder-publisher-rakesh-wahi/.




Al
Abadilah, Maha. “Phone Interview, Rakesh Wahi Analysis” Voice recorder. 18 Dec.
2018. 



Bandyopadhyay,
Somshankar. “Military Lessons in Entrepreneurship.” GulfNews, 15 Mar.
2017, https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/books/military-lessons-in-entrepreneurship-1.1994221.




Bishop,
Chris. “Re: Chris Bishop CNBC Africa.” Received by Anahita Negarandeh, 12 Dec.
2018. 



CNBC
Africa. “Rakesh Wahi Reflects on CNBC Africa&#8217;s Decade of Broadcasting.” CNBC
Africa, CNBC Africa, 1 June 2017, www.cnbcafrica.com/videos/2017/06/01/rakesh-wahi-reflects-on-cnbc-africas-decade-of-broadcasting/.




CNBC
Africa. “The Entrepreneur&#8217;s Entrepreneur: Rakesh Wahi.” CNBC Africa, 4
Nov. 2016, www.cnbcafrica.com/news/special-report/2016/11/04/be-a-lion/. 



Jeppesen,
Lars. “Re: Business Paper Inquiry &#8211; Harvard University.” Received by Anahita
Negarandeh, 12 Dec. 2018. 



Lancaster
University Ghana. “Rakesh Wahi Chairman.” Lancaster University Ghana,
www.lancaster.edu.gh/our-faculty-details.php?id=45. Accessed 8 Dec. 2018. 



Martin, Gary. “Re: Business Paper Inquiry &#8211;
Harvard University.” Received by Anahita Negarandeh, 12 Dec. 2018. 



Naicker,
Roberta. “Re: Business Paper Inquiry &#8211; Harvard University.” Received by Anahita
Negarandeh, 12 Dec. 2018. 



Podar,
Rajiv. “Re: Business Paper Inquiry &#8211; Harvard University.” Received by Anahita
Negarandeh, 12 Dec. 2018. 



Vettath,
Malavika. “Global Entrepreneur Rakesh Wahi: &#8216;I&#8217;ve Been a Very Bad Personal
Investor&#8217;.” The National, The National, 25 May 2018,
www.thenational.ae/business/money/global-entrepreneur-rakesh-wahi-i-ve-been-a-very-bad-personal-investor-1.733606.




Wahi,
Rakesh. Be A Lion. Penguin Books, 2016. Kindle eBook file. 



Wahi,
Rakesh. “Re: Business Paper Inquiry &#8211; Harvard University.” Received by Anahita
Negarandeh, 12 Dec. 2018.

Rakesh Wahi

Analysis: The Values That Make A CEO

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 class="wp-block-heading">&#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 class="wp-block-heading">&#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 class="wp-block-heading">&#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 class="wp-block-heading">&#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 class="wp-block-list"><li>Words: Karen Mwendera&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Edited by: Unathi Shologu</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>&nbsp;Assistant: Garreth Mtuwa&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Creative direction by: Lucy Nkosi&nbsp;&nbsp; </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Lead photography by: Motlabana Monnakgotla</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><li>Business: Anthea Gardner, Founder and Managing Partner at Cartesian Capital</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><li>Creatives: Yasmin Furmie, creative and business partner of fashion brand SiSi The Collection, South Africa</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Sport: Nick Said, the Africa sports correspondent for Thomson Reuters </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><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

Nelson Mandela’s centenary brought together headline-grabbing A-listers and pledges of over $7 billion towards pressing global issues. Though for some, it didn’t end well.



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



It was exactly 10 years ago when Australian humanitarian
Hugh Evans, along with his friend Simon Moss, launched the Global Poverty
Project, committing to end extreme poverty by 2030.



That dream launched Global Citizen, and with that, an
eponymous festival in 2012.



“Over 5.65 million actions led to 58 commitments and
announcements worth $7,096,996,725, set to affect the lives of 137,368,628
people,” summed up the Global Citizen Festival, held in December 2018 for the
first time in South Africa, hosted at the FNB Stadium, in the historic township
of Soweto, in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s centenary.



On a hot Sunday afternoon that also saw looming rain clouds,
thousands wearing straw hats and shades, trooped into the stadium, some
arriving as early as 5AM for what was billed a mega concert. 



Presidents, delegates, CEOs, activists, musicians and more
gathered for the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100.



Among them, a galaxy of international and local celebrities
such as Beyoncé, Trevor Noah, Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Usher, Danai
Gurira, Bonang Matheba, Nomzamo Mbatha, Tyler Perry, Pharrell Williams, Bob
Geldof, Ed Sheeran, and dignitaries such as South African President Cyril
Ramaphosa, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina J. Mohammed,
Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana,
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, former South African First Lady Graca Machel
and many more were all gathered for the one-day spectacle. 



The Daily Show anchor and host of the event, Noah said:
“This is 2010 all over again,” referring to the euphoria in South Africa when
the country hosted the FIFA World Cup that year.



“Everybody is here in Mzansi to celebrate the work of Nelson
Mandela,” he added.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="407" height="544" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39091" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global6.png 407w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global6-300x401.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global6-224x300.png 224w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 407px) 100vw, 407px" /><figcaption>Trevor Noah at the Neslon Mandela Global Citizen Festival. Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure></div>



More than 75,000 people were in attendance at the stadium.



On stage, dignitaries committed actions taken to end extreme
poverty, achieve gender equality, and ensure food security, education and
global health.



“Everyone is a global citizen and how you want to take
action in helping others using your voice, reaching out to a representative and
holding rallies, coming together, uniting to make a change is wonderful.
Everybody has a voice now today,” model and activist Campbell who was on stage
told FORBES AFRICA on the sidelines.



&nbsp;“To have a 20-year
with the great man, President Nelson Mandela, is something I will treasure for the rest of my life and it’s an honor to be here and see everyone come together, and to see the young generation understand what this man Mandela stood for, what he sacrificed and what he wanted to achieve. And we are still trying to achieve what he wanted to, which is to eradicate poverty by 2030,” added Campbell. 



Nigerian musician Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti,
who performed and got the crowds dancing, told FORBES AFRICA some of the issues
he holds close to his heart are equality, poverty and the importance of
accountability by all leaders worldwide. 



“Every citizen must take responsibility for tackling these
problems,” he said. 



“My father is a really good example of this, Bob Marley is a
good example of this. If musicians did not talk about such issues, we would
probably be naïve.”



One of Nigeria’s best-selling musicians, D’banj, agreed.



He performed his hit song, Oliver Twist, wearing his
hallmark dark shades, a pair of metallic gold pants and jacket.



“Before I went on stage, I was so glad that this is Africa,
I have performed everywhere in the world but this is my home, and my people are
here,” he told FORBES AFRICA.



&nbsp;“Getting out here and
seeing my generation, the next generation, the millennials, and everyone coming
out, I am just so humbled. I can just say that, from here, the future is going
to be bright because the message of us stars coming together will leave a
mark.” 



The Nigerian artiste is not new to the Global Citizen scene.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="923" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39092" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global2.png 923w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global2-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global2-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global2-768x510.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 923px) 100vw, 923px" /><figcaption> Beyoncé performs at the Neslon Mandela Global Citizen Festival. Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure>



In 2015, he performed alongside Usher, Mary J Blige and
Will.i.am at the Global Citizen Earth Day in Washington D.C in the United
States.



“Global Citizen coming to Africa meant a lot for me… Because
after we leave here, we are going to leave a mark that is going to awaken them
and everybody is going to want to challenge our leaders to give us the right
change,” he said. 



Back on stage, the host Noah addressed the crowds about why
Africa should indeed be celebrated.



“When it comes to resources, Africa is the richest place on
earth,” he said.



“We have more booty than any other continent on the planet.
Men and women&#8230; The point is, Africa has a lot of natural wealth. But what’s
crazy is that even with all this wealth, 40% of all children across the continent
are stunted due to lack of access to food. Tonight, we are calling on African
leaders to commit three percent of their countries’ budgets to nutrition by
2020.”



All through the concert, the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals were unraveled. 



The now former president of the World Bank, Dr Jim Yong Kim,
said it was important to contribute to issues related to health because, “the
crisis is much bigger”. As a result, the World Bank Group invested an
additional $1 million to health and education. 



Other celebrities and global leaders not present made their
own pledges through pre-recorded videos screened at the event.



Businessman and philanthropist Richard Branson pledged a
$105 million joint commitment to end the world’s leading cause of preventable
blindness. Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced an investment of
$4 billion made at the G7 Summit towards education for vulnerable women and
girls globally.



Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela
Merkel, pledged €63 million ($72.2 million) to Global Citizen over the next
three years.



From a South African perspective, the Motsepe Foundation, a
hosting and presenting partner of Global Citizen, committed more than $104.4
million towards education, economic inclusion and equality of women and girls,
as well as the current debate on land reform in South Africa. Entrepreneurs
Patrice Motsepe and his wife Precious received a rapturous applause when they
appeared on stage. 



President Ramaphosa committed R2 billion ($144 million) for
youth in South Africa, and announced the government’s intention to spend R60
billion ($4.3 billion) to provide free access to schools for poor children in
South Africa.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="928" height="609" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39093" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global3.png 928w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global3-300x197.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global3-600x394.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global3-768x504.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" /><figcaption> Beyoncé and Jay-Z at the Neslon Mandela Global Citizen Festival. Picture: Supplied </figcaption></figure>



But with all the pledges announced, the biggest question
remained, what next? 



The Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, who
was in attendance, weighed in on this.



“What I’d really like to see is we coming up with an
integrated action plan so that it is not just raising the money but we
absolutely identify how is this money going to be utilized and how we can work
together better to support one another and to make sure that it is more likely
that these issues will be delivered,” she told FORBES AFRICA.



“What I hope will come out of this is concrete action which
will make a difference to the lives of the people who are so desperately
thirsting for change.”



At the end of the day, what the 75,000-plus in the stadium
had really come for was the culminating act by Beyoncé, one of the world’s
highest-paid musicians listed on FORBES. 



In one of the outfits on stage, Beyoncé wore a sequined body
suit, thigh-high boots, and a dramatic cape that paid tribute to Africa’s 54
countries. It was designed by Mary Katrantzou, who said in an Instagram post:
“Her coat has the 54 countries of Africa mapped out and on each country there
is a different embroidery representing its diversity.” Beyoncé also wore a
colorful beaded mini-dress with an elaborate back-piece, which according to her
mother Tina Lawson, featured “one hundred thousand African beads”.



Some of the other designers the artiste wore during the
visit included South African designers Enhle Mbali Maphumulo of Manual Rossa
Apparel, Rich Mnisi, MmusoMaxwell, Senegalese designer Adama Ndiaye’s label
Adama Paris, Sarah Diouf’s line Tongoro Studio and Ivorian label Yhebe Design.



Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z brought Africa to its feet to
their tunes for the first time. It was a breath-taking, epic production which
saw them perform hit songs like Halo, Perfect, Bonnie &amp; Clyde, Formation
and Forever Young.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="853" height="596" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39094" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global5.png 853w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global5-300x210.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global5-600x419.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Global5-768x537.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px" /><figcaption> Naomi Campbell at the Neslon Mandela Global Citizen Festival. Picture: Supplied </figcaption></figure>



But despite the success of the Global Citizen Festival, it
was a chaotic end to a beautiful night for some.



While heads of state and celebrities were escorted back from
the concert venue, some festival-goers were left stranded in gridlocked traffic
at midnight to face attacks by criminals.



Many took to social media to explain how they were mugged at
gunpoint and were victims to violence. 



One of the attendees, 23-year-old Kayleen Morgan, who
witnessed the attacks, told us: “What was upsetting was for something like this
to happen at an event organized on such a huge scale. People’s experiences were
not taken seriously&#8230;” 



A month after these unfortunate incidents, some suspects
have been arrested and investigations continue. 



It was a night Beyoncé stole, and a night some
audience-goers will never forget, for being stolen from.

Global4

2010 all over again: a musical extravaganza to honor Nelson Mandela

Supermodel, Philanthropist, Activist and Cultural Innovator Naomi Campbell, will headline this year’s FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, hosted by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, taking place at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on International Women’s Day &#8211; Friday, 8 March.



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



“We are truly honoured to be welcoming Naomi Campbell to the fourth
annual FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit,” commented Methil Renuka,
Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA and FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, and host of this
year’s event. “Having established herself as a global powerhouse in fashion, Naomi
Campbell has used her fame to benefit vulnerable communities, with much of her
charity work also focused on the African continent. We look forward to engaging
with her at this year’s ‘New Wealth Creators’ summit.”



British-born Naomi Campbell was one of five
original supermodels that revolutionised the fashion industry during the 1990s.
Her work on the runway has seen her grace countless magazine covers, as well as
featuring in numerous television shows, music videos and films. Naomi Campbell has used her unique
position in the spotlight to draw attention to several international charities,
among them the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Made in Africa Foundation,
amfAR, and Breast Health International. 



Her charity work started
alongside Nelson Mandela in 1993, with Madiba bestowing her the title of
‘Honorary Granddaughter’ for her ongoing activism. In 2005, Naomi Campbell established her own charity,
Fashion for Relief which has presented shows in New York, London, Cannes,
Moscow, Mumbai and Dar es Salaam, raising millions of dollars for various worthwhile
causes. 



Sihle Zikalala, the KwaZulu-Natal
Minister for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, said: “We
extend a warm welcome to this year’s headline speaker, Naomi Campbell. We look forward to engaging with her on topics
that will extend the positive impact women in this country, and on the
continent, are having globally. Her involvement in this event indicates the
calibre of this summit, and the strides being taken by African women. We are
proud to have been selected as the host venue for the fourth FORBES WOMAN
AFRICA Leading Women Summit as this gives us an opportunity to showcase the
incredible business opportunities and inviting natural beauty of the place we
call home.”



Attendees to the summit, hosted in association with the IDC, will get
the chance to engage with a selection of the continent’s most influential women
through keynote addresses, panel discussions and personal interviews. In
addition to the daytime networking, attendees to the summit are invited to the
FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards’ – a glamorous gala dinner celebrating those who
have made a remarkable impact in the business, sports, science, entertainment
and leadership categories. The gala dinner will take place at Durban’s Inkosi
Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.



Ticket sales for this dynamic day are now open and includes full access
to the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit from 7am to 4pm and the FORBES
WOMAN AFRICA Awards’ Gala Dinner. Tickets are limited so book now!



&#8211;For more information, visit <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="www.leadingwomensummit.co.za (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.cvent.com/events/invitation-2019-forbes-woman-africa-leading-women-summit-and-awards-8-march-durban/event-summary-0282df9e080844008d92cc3319de7b9f.aspx" target="_blank">www.leadingwomensummit.co.za</a> or follow <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="@LWSummit (opens in a new tab)" href="https://twitter.com/LWSummit" target="_blank">@LWSummit</a> on various social media platforms (#LWS2019KZN).



-The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit and the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards’ Gala Dinner will be produced by ABN Event Productions.



-Picture: Laspata Decaro

Naomi1

Naomi Campbell Announced As Headline Speaker For The 2019 Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit

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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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 class="wp-block-list"><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.

Tag: Forbes Africa

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA