This is a first-of-its-kind Pan-African unranked compilation of the continent’s leading women, drawn from business, politics, media, science, sports and public life, who are challenging the status quo and creating a trail on terrain where there was none. They are reshaping history, closing inequalities and pioneering new avenues of wealth creation and in turn, lifting others with them. 



To read the full feature, <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/product/forbes-africa/">subscribe to Forbes Africa</a> or download the issue <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/product/single-digital-issue-forbes-africa-march-2020/">here.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class=""><tbody><tr><td> NAME</td><td> COUNTRY</td><td>TITLE</td><td> SECTOR</td></tr><tr><td>GRACA MACHEL</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>FOUNDER, GRACA MACHEL TRUST</td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>CLARE AKAMANZI</td><td>RWANDA</td><td>CEO, RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD</td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT/GOVERNANCE</td></tr><tr><td>FOLORUNSO ALAKIJA </td><td>NIGERIA </td><td>EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR, FAMFA OIL </td><td>OIL SECTOR</td></tr><tr><td>JENNIFER RIRIA</td><td>KENYA </td><td>GROUP CEO, ECHO NETWORK AFRICA (ENA); FOUNDING MEMBER, KENYA WOMEN FINANCE TRUST</td><td>FINANCE</td></tr><tr><td>LOUISE MUSHIKIWABO</td><td>RWANDA </td><td>SECRETARY GENERAL, ORGANISATION INTERNATIONALE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE (OIF) </td><td></td></tr><tr><td>AYA CHEBBI</td><td>TUNISIA</td><td>BLOGGER AND AFRICA UNION YOUTH ENVOY </td><td>MEDIA</td></tr><tr><td>ELSIE KANZA</td><td> TANZANIA </td><td>HEAD OF AFRICA AND MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM </td><td>FINANCE</td></tr><tr><td>IBUKUN AWOSIKA</td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>FOUNDER AND CEO, THE CHAIR CENTRE GROUP </td><td>MANUFACTURING</td></tr><tr><td>DR JUDY DLAMINI</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>FOUNDER, MBEKANI GROUP</td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>CHARLIZE THERON</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS</td><td>ENTERTAINMENT</td></tr><tr><td>CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE</td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>AUTHOR, PUBLIC SPEAKER </td><td>PUBLISHING</td></tr><tr><td>PHUTI MAHANYELE-DABENGWA</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>CEO, NASPERS SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>TECHNOLOGY</td></tr><tr><td>OBIAGELI ‘OBY’ EZEKWESILI</td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>SENIOR ECONOMIC ADVISOR, AFRICA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY INITIATIVE (AEDPI) </td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>GLENDA GRAY</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>PRESIDENT AND CEO, SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (SAMRC) </td><td>HEALTHCARE</td></tr><tr><td>THULI MADONSELA</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>LAW TRUST CHAIR, SOCIAL JUSTICE RESEARCH AT STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY </td><td>LAW</td></tr><tr><td>WENDY LUHABE</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR &amp; CO-FOUNDER, WIPHOLD </td><td>FINANCE</td></tr><tr><td>ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO</td><td>BENIN </td><td>FOUR-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER </td><td>ENTERTAINMENT</td></tr><tr><td>MANAL ROSTOM</td><td>EGYPT</td><td>FOUNDER, SURVIVING HIJAB AND FACE OF NIKE PRO HIJAB </td><td>HEALTH AND FITNESS</td></tr><tr><td>LYDIA NSEKERA </td><td>BURUNDI</td><td>PRESIDENT, NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (NOC) OF BURUNDI AND MEMBER OF FIFA COUNCIL </td><td>SPORT/GOVERNANCE</td></tr><tr><td>WINNIE BYANYIMA</td><td>UGANDA</td><td>EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNAIDS </td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA</td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>CHAIR, BOARD OF THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR VACCINES AND IMMUNISATION (GAVI) </td><td>HEALTHCARE</td></tr><tr><td>PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNITED NATIONS (UN) WOMEN </td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>WARIS DIRIE </td><td>SOMALIA</td><td>PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, DESERT FLOWER FOUNDATION </td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF</td><td>LIBERIA </td><td>FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE </td><td>GOVERNANCE</td></tr><tr><td>YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>AWARD-WINNING MUSICIAN </td><td>ENTERTAINMENT</td></tr><tr><td>SAHLE-WORK ZEWDE</td><td>ETHIOPIA</td><td>PRESIDENT OF ETHIOPIA</td><td>GOVERNANCE</td></tr><tr><td>MAMOKGETHI (KGETHI) PHAKENG</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>VICE-CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT) </td><td>EDUCATION</td></tr><tr><td>REBECCA ENONCHONG</td><td>CAMEROON</td><td>FOUNDER &amp; CEO, APPSTECH </td><td>TECHNOLOGY </td></tr><tr><td>BONANG MATHEBA </td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>MEDIA PERSONALITY, ENTREPRENEUR </td><td>ENTERTAINMENT</td></tr><tr><td>FATMA SAMOURA</td><td>SENEGAL</td><td>SECRETARY-GENERAL, FIFA</td><td>SPORT</td></tr><tr><td>IRENE CHARNLEY </td><td>SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>FOUNDER, SMILE COMMUNICATIONS </td><td>TECHNOLOGY</td></tr><tr><td>UCHENNA ‘UCHE’ PEDRO</td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>FOUNDER AND CEO, BELLANAIJA </td><td>MEDIA</td></tr><tr><td>ILWAD ELMAN</td><td>SOMALIA</td><td>FOUNDER, ELMAN PEACE CENTRE </td><td>ACTIVISM</td></tr><tr><td>WENDY APPELBAUM </td><td>SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>FOUNDER AND CHAIRPERSON, DE MORGENZON WINE ESTATE </td><td>ENTREPRENEUR</td></tr><tr><td>OLAJUMOKE ADENOWO</td><td>NIGERIA </td><td>FOUNDER, AD CONSULTING </td><td>ADVERTISING</td></tr><tr><td>BETHLEHEM TILAHUN ALEMU</td><td>ETHIOPIA</td><td>FOUNDER AND CEO, SOLEREBELS FOOTWEAR, GARDEN OF COFFEE, TEFFTASTIC </td><td>ENTREPRENEUR</td></tr><tr><td>NKOSAZANA DLAMINI-ZUMA </td><td>SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>MINISTER OF COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>GOVERNANCE</td></tr><tr><td>WENDY ACKERMAN</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PICK ‘N PAY </td><td>RETAIL</td></tr><tr><td>CASTER SEMENYA</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA </td><td>OLYMPIC CHAMPION </td><td>SPORT</td></tr><tr><td>RAWYA MANSOUR</td><td>EGYPT</td><td>FOUNDER AND CEO, RAMSCO</td><td>AGRICULTURE</td></tr><tr><td>ARUNMA OTEH</td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>ACADEMIC SCHOLAR, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD FORMER TREASURER AND VICE PRESIDENT, WORLD BANK LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE AFRICA ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER </td><td>FINANCE</td></tr><tr><td>FATOU BENSOUDA</td><td>GAMBIA</td><td>PROSECUTOR, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)</td><td>LAW</td></tr><tr><td>HAJER SHARIEF</td><td>LIBYA</td><td>HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE </td><td>ACTIVISM</td></tr><tr><td>AMINA J. MOHAMMED</td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS </td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>PRECIOUS MOTSEPE </td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>FOUNDER, AFRICAN FASHION INTERNATIONAL </td><td>FASHION</td></tr><tr><td>LUPITA NYONG&#8217;O</td><td>KENYA</td><td>OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR</td><td>ENTERTAINMENT</td></tr><tr><td>VERA SONGWE </td><td>CAMEROON</td><td>EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA </td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr><tr><td>MAGDA WIERZYCKA</td><td>SOUTH AFRICA</td><td>FOUNDER, SYGNIA </td><td>FINANCE</td></tr><tr><td>TARA FELA-DUROTOYE </td><td>NIGERIA</td><td>FOUNDER, HOUSE OF TARA INTERNATIONAL </td><td>BEAUTY </td></tr><tr><td>THERESA KACHINDAMOTO</td><td>MALAWI</td><td>CHIEF OF DEDZA DISTRICT</td><td>SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>











-Mashokane Mahlo

IMG_1479

Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women

Africa’s most dynamic thought-leaders, industry game-changers
and icons of social activism are set to feature at the ex<a>clusive
FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit </a>presented by Mastercard (#LWS2020KZN)
and hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal government &#8211; taking place at the Inkosi Albert
Luthuli ICC Complex in Durban on Friday, 6 March 2020.



For the 5th edition of this globally-renowned
event, panellists and speakers will engage with the impactful 2020 theme, ‘The
Ceiling Crashers 2.0: Power with Purpose’. The day’s thought-provoking
discussions will be followed by the highly-anticipated <a>FORBES
WOMAN AFRICA Awards Gala Dinner </a>which celebrates the continent’s most
influential female ‘ceiling crashers’ across a number of key categories.&nbsp; 



“The <a>FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading
Women Summit </a>has grown to become one of the biggest female-empowerment
events, boasting a high calibre of attendees and unparalleled speaker line-up,”
said Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of FORBES WOMAN AFRICA. 



“This promises to be the biggest instalment yet,
featuring female pioneers and path-breakers across the continent. Audiences will
be exposed to dynamic discussions about the growing the number of women in
leadership &#8211; something government and business really need to factor into their
strategies. We will also get to grips with a new discourse that focuses on dismantling
power structures and the need for truly inclusive cultures in business and
society.”



This highly-anticipated event, which is hosted annually
in honour of International Women’s Day, is expected to draw an audience of
around 1 000 leading women. Through hard-hitting talks, fireside chats and
insightful panel sessions centred on ‘ceiling crashers’, attendees will be
inspired to make meaningful changes within their own industries, secure in the
knowledge that they have the support of these innovative allies. This year’s
programme promises an influential mix of leaders in healthcare and business;
advocates of social and environmental activism; award-winning artists and
internationally-renowned stateswomen. 



For the first time, FORBES WOMAN AFRICA will be releasing
its own list of ‘Africa’s Most Powerful Women’, many of whom will be attending
the summit. The list will be published in the March issue of the magazine, outlining
those who have been leading ideas and industries while purposefully
contributing to nation-building and positively impacting the lives around them.



The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards Gala Dinner, which is
hosted the evening of the summit, is an opportunity to recognise the
trailblazers and role models who have created a new narrative within their
industries. By challenging authority and ‘old school’ traditions, they are
enabling future generations to live in a better and more equal world. 



Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President, Marketing and
Communications, Mastercard Middle East and Africa, said: “African women are a
vital source of innovation, prosperity, and economic growth. Yet inequality and
exclusion still hold women back in many aspects of their everyday lives &#8211; from
growing their businesses to having the financial tools to participate in the
formal economy; from joining the C-Suite to following their passions. We are
proud to partner with FORBES WOMAN AFRICA as we believe that it is only by
bringing diverse perspectives to the table that we can unlock Africa’s
possibilities to women.”



Managing Director of the ABN Group, Roberta Naicker, said
the organisation was excited that the KwaZulu-Natal government would, once
again, play host to this illustrious event, which serves to highlight the
continent’s most influential female leaders while also shining a spotlight on
this beautiful region. “A summit of this calibre showcases that KZN is being
positioned as a world-class events’ destination. We are excited to have
renowned speakers and attendees will get the opportunity to engage on hard-hitting
issues during the summit, while also affording them the chance to enjoy the
many recreational tourism sites and activities for which KZN is renowned.”



Tickets to the exclusive 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading
Women Summit and Gala Dinner are available at a cost of R3499, available
through Webtickets (<a href="https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1496991848">https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1496991848</a>).
Tickets are limited and interested parties are urged to book early to avoid
disappointment. There are also select opportunities to get involved with the event
sponsorship, exhibiting at the on-site marketplace or by sponsoring a mentee. Please
visit website for further details.



The 2020 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit is
presented by Mastercard (@MastercardMEA) and hosted by KZN Provincial
Government (@KZNgov). Keep updated on all the latest news and announcements on
Twitter @LWSummit and join the conversation using the hashtags #LWS2020KZN
#DOKZN.



Contact details:



Office: +27 (11) 384 0300



Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities: <a href="mailto:Sales_South_Africa@abn360.com">Sales_South_Africa@abn360.com</a> 



Media partnerships and press accreditation: <a href="mailto:oj@oliviajones.co.za">oj@oliviajones.co.za</a> 



Event-related queries: <a href="mailto:events@abn360.com">events@abn360.com</a>



Website:<a href="http://www.Leadingwomensummit.co.za">www.Leadingwomensummit.co.za</a>

LWS_Social-Media_Twitter_announcement_1

Africa’s Most Dynamic Thought-Leaders, Industry Game-Changers And Icons Of Social Activism Set To Feature At The Exclusive FORBES WOMAN AFRICA 2020 Leading Women Summit

Chika Uwazie helps small and medium businesses find the right people and scale up with more sophisticated human resource systems in Nigeria’s booming economy. 



Nigeria is projected to add no fewer than
200 million people to its current population of 196 million between 2018 and
2050. The country is also expected to surpass the United States (US), according
to a 2019 Nigerian economic outlook report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
With such a swell in its population, the need to find the right talent has
become a strategic imperative for organizations. 



That is where Chika Uwazie comes in. The
31-year-old tech entrepreneur helps SMEs automate their human resources (HR)
tasks to ensure they have the right processes in place to help them scale and
be successful. Her own journey to success has been far from easy. The
Georgetown University graduate, who spent 10 years as a competitive cheerleader
in the US, made the decision to relocate to Nigeria after her little sister
died due to complications from sickle cell anemia. 



“When everything happened with my sister, I
was at a crossroads. I had finished Georgetown and when you finish from a big
school like that, you go into consulting with one of the big four. I said I
don’t want to do that because that was not enough. I used to always get excited
and light up when I spoke to my sister and we spoke about potentially starting
something in tech and building a tech company,” says Uwazie.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="233" height="300" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1-233x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42567" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1-233x300.jpg 233w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1-300x386.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1-600x772.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1-796x1024.jpg 796w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1-768x988.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1-1194x1536.jpg 1194w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/53743431_10101002861460225_7087836493951008768_n-1.jpg 1492w" sizes="(max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px" /><figcaption> Chika Uwazie. Photo provided</figcaption></figure></div>



After her sister’s death, Uwazie decided to
take the leap and build a company that was not only profitable but also made an
impact. She started a tech company called TalentBase, a HR software company
that provides an affordable and easy-to-use HRM platform solution enabling HR
managers and growing businesses to simplify and organize their HR processes.
Uwazie was determined not to let the vision she shared with her sister die. But
first, she needed funding.&nbsp; 



“As you know, it is very hard for black
people to raise money in the US, the bars are extremely high. I felt it would
not necessarily be easier in Africa but I felt I would have more support if I
came back to Nigeria to start a tech company and so that is why I came. And I
felt like I wanted to have an impact. Tech is so oversaturated in the US and I
felt like in Nigeria, there are so many things that need to be done.”



After almost a year of knocking on the
doors of prospective investors, Uwazie got her big break through a colleague at
Google who connected Uwazie with 500 Startups, a Silicon Valley-based venture
capital firm, which provided funding and support. The program required Uwazie
to stay in San Francisco for six months, after which she was able to
successfully raise more angel investment a year later to scale her business.
This year, Uwazie stepped down from the CEO position at TalentBase to move on
to her next venture, Career Queen.



“In Africa, and not just Nigeria, there is
a human capital problem. Throughout the time I was running TalentBase, everyone
kept complaining to me about how it was difficult to find good talent and this
is why I started Career Queen, which is my second wind of entrepreneurship. It
has been a crazy growth cycle and I didn’t realize how challenging recruitment
is in Africa,” says Uwazie.



She spends most of her time recruiting
C-suite executives and executive assistants for organizations in Africa, with a
particular focus on women. And according to Uwazie, the numbers don’t lie.



“It has been proven, companies that hire
women are 30% more profitable than those who do not have women in the team. The
aim is to also get women a seat at the board table. A huge part of my vision
now is starting this movement among women, making an impact in organizations
and finding great talent for organizations.” 



Only if there were more who thought like
her.

GettyImages-1135564516

Female tech entrepreneur helps SMEs automate their human resources

FORBES WOMAN AFRICA is
excited to announce the inaugural FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Regional Forum in
association with Mastercard, a Leading Women Summit initiative, to be held in
Kigali, Rwanda, on 9 August 2019.



Coinciding with National Women&#8217;s Day in South Africa, the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Regional Forum in association with Mastercard will bring together 250 powerful women from across East Africa and will follow in the footsteps of the bigger annual FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, bringing a slice of this sought-after gathering to East Africa. 



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Naomi Campbell Announced As Headline Speaker For The 2019 Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/02/07/naomi-campbell-announced-as-headline-speaker-for-the-2019-forbes-woman-africa-leading-women-summit/" target="_blank">Naomi Campbell Announced As Headline Speaker For The 2019 Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit</a>



“The
FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Regional Forum will echo the same fervor and sentiment as the
flagship Leading Women Summit but in hosting it for the first time in East
Africa, what I am very keen on is coming face-to-face with the women who are at
the top of their game in this region – the guests and speakers on the day will
be luminaries you don’t want to miss meeting,” says Renuka Methil, Managing
Editor of FORBES AFRICA and FORBES WOMAN AFRICA.



As an initiative by the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit, the full-day, not-to-be-missed event, which will debut in the East African nation, is to be hosted at the Kigali Serena Hotel and will feature some of the exciting content FORBES WOMAN AFRICA has consistently won awards for.



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Naomi Campbell: Africa Is One Of The Leading Continents In The World (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/08/naomi-campbell-africa-is-one-of-the-leading-continents-in-the-world/" target="_blank">Naomi Campbell: Africa Is One Of The Leading Continents In The World</a>



Beatrice Cornacchia, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Mastercard Middle East and Africa said: “African women are a force for economic growth and social change, and are playing a critical role in addressing the development challenges faced across the continent. 



 “As cultural and social dynamics shift, we are beginning to see an environment where women can flourish, and demonstrate the value they offer to every industry and sector in the economy. We are proud to partner with Forbes Africa and believe that this initiative will help to create opportunities for women to reach their greatest potential.”



The 2019 FORBES
WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit on March 8 saw Supermodel, Philanthropist, Activist and Cultural Innovator Naomi
Campbell headline the Durban event, alongside some of the most notable names in
business, sports, politics and the arts.



Further details and speaker profiles will soon be revealed in the buildup to the event.



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/arts/2019/04/10/noami-campbell-has-big-plans-for-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Naomi Campbell Has Big Plans For Africa (opens in a new tab)">Naomi Campbell Has Big Plans For Africa</a>



&#8211;The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Regional Forum in association with Mastercard will be a by-invitation-only gathering and further information can be obtained by following <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="@LWSummit (opens in a new tab)" href="https://twitter.com/LWSummit" target="_blank">@LWSummit</a> on Twitter.



-The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Regional Forum in association with Mastercard will be managed and produced by ABN Event Productions.

Business people having meeting in modern office

Forbes Woman Africa Announces First Regional Forum In Rwanda

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><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

The New Wealth Creators is the first of its kind list by FORBES WOMAN AFRICA. Herein is a collection of female entrepreneurs on the African continent running businesses and social enterprises that are new, offbeat and radical.



These 20 women have been selected because they have created significant impact in their respective sectors by transforming a market or company, or innovating a product or service, and are pioneering their organization(s) in generating new untapped streams of income.



VIEW THE FULL LIST|<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/11/the-businesses-of-the-future-20-new-wealth-creators-on-the-african-continent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Businesses Of The Future: 20 New Wealth Creators On The African Continent (opens in a new tab)">Businesses Of The Future: 20 New Wealth Creators On The African Continent</a>



These women come from across the continent, from the villages and the suburbs, and are in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. They have all adopted sustainable development initiatives in one way or another to help solve Africa’s problems.



They may be wealth creators but their businesses, ironically, did not stem from a need to make money,&nbsp; but rather from the need to solve Africa’s persisting socio-economic challenges.



&nbsp;Economically empowering women has shown to boost productivity. It increases economic diversification and income equality, in addition to other positive developmental outcomes.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">Simply put, when more women work, economies are likely to grow.</blockquote>



FORBES WOMAN AFRICA put in months of rigorous research, searching near and far for these inspirational entrepreneurs.



We took into account their business model, new ideas, potential, struggles, social impact, growth, influence, resilience and most importantly, their innovation.



Speaking to FORBES WOMAN AFRICA last year at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, said: “Innovation [is] becoming the cornerstone for our economy going forward.”



As Africa’s population is reported to increase by 53% by 2100, according to the United Nations, new solutions must be created in order for us to keep up.



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/08/naomi-campbell-africa-is-one-of-the-leading-continents-in-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Naomi Campbell: Africa Is One Of The Leading Continents In The World</a>



One question remains: can Africa translate its significant population growth into economic development, and invest this wealth to improve the quality of life?



Entrepreneurship could very well be the answer, or at least, one of the answers.



Last year, the Founder and Chair of the Alibaba Group Jack Ma paid Africa a visit to discuss tangible investment and technology development.



He encouraged African entrepreneurs to take giant leaps in solving the challenges facing the continent and to take advantage of the digital economy.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="565" height="487" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NWC9.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39576" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NWC9.png 565w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/NWC9-300x259.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px" /><figcaption>From left to right:&nbsp;Rachel Sibande, Arlene Mulder, Miishe Addy, Sarah Collins, Dineo Lioma, Jessica Anuna. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla Assistant Photographer: Gypseenia Lion</figcaption></figure></div>



He said that opportunities lie where people complain.



And these women, through their businesses, have identified just that.



Vijay Tirathrai, director of the Techstars Dubai Accelerator, shared the same sentiments with FORBES WOMAN AFRICA.



“The new wealth creators, for me, are entrepreneurs who are very conscious about finding solutions in the market place, but from a lens of having social impact or having impacted the environment,” he says.



Tirathrai believes that while servicing consumers, new wealth creators are also “making a safer and a greener planet in the process, eliminating diseases, improving health conditions and advocating for equality for women”.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">Women on the African continent have been making headway as drivers of change, and in many ways, they embody new wealth.</blockquote>



They are the true wealth.



As FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, we seek to celebrate such women.



Through this list, money is no longer the central indicator of new wealth creation.



It is about job creation, contributing to healthy societies, recycling waste, giving agency to those who are financially excluded and developing solutions for some of the socio-economic problems we grapple with.



IN PICTURES | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/13/in-pictures-leading-women-summit-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Leading Women Summit 2019 (opens in a new tab)">Leading Women Summit 2019</a>



These women may all come from different places but they are bound together by one common thread, and that is the thread of new wealth creation.



This compilation is innovative, exciting, inspiring and shows what businesses of the future may look like.



Meet the FORBES WOMAN AFRICA New Wealth Creators of 2019.

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WATCH | The Making Of The New Wealth Creators Cover

The FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit which was hosted the by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government took place on International Women’s Day (Friday, 08 March) at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre. 



Full list of winners | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Leading Women Summit award winners (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS_Winnerboards_Twitter.pdf" target="_blank">Leading Women Summit award winners</a> 



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS16.jpg" alt="" data-id="39660" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39660" class="wp-image-39660" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS16.jpg 800w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS16-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS16-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS16-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Naomi Campbell. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="562" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS18.jpg" alt="" data-id="39661" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39661" class="wp-image-39661" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS18.jpg 800w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS18-300x211.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS18-600x422.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS18-768x540.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Saloni Wahi, Rakesh Wahi, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Roberta Naicker. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="600" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS11.jpg" alt="" data-id="39662" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39662" class="wp-image-39662" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS11.jpg 750w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS11-300x240.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS11-600x480.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption> Managing Editor of FORBES AFRICA and FORBES WOMAN AFRICA, Methil Renuka. Picture: GABHISATV </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS14.jpg" alt="" data-id="39663" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39663" class="wp-image-39663" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS14.jpg 800w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS14-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS14-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS14-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption> Noëlla Coursaris Musunka. Picture: GABHISATV </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



READ MORE about the New Wealth Creators | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Businesses Of The Future: 20 New Wealth Creators On The African Continent (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/11/the-businesses-of-the-future-20-new-wealth-creators-on-the-african-continent/" target="_blank">Businesses Of The Future: 20 New Wealth Creators On The African Continent</a>



The 2019 Leading Women Summit was a full-day event, with an audience of over 500 women.



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="654" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-1-1024x654.jpg" alt="" data-id="39650" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39650" class="wp-image-39650" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-1.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-1-300x192.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-1-600x383.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-1-768x491.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Award winners at the 2019 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Awards. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="765" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-2-1024x765.jpg" alt="" data-id="39651" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39651" class="wp-image-39651" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-2.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-2-300x224.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-2-600x448.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-2-768x574.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Judith Kepher-Gona, Uchenna Pedro, Arlene Mulder and Nosipho Mkhupheka. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="690" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-3-1024x690.jpg" alt="" data-id="39652" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39652" class="wp-image-39652" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-3.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-3-300x202.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-3-600x404.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-3-768x518.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Hon Mr Sihle Zikalala, Saloni Wahi, Wendy Luhabe and Rakesh Wahi. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="711" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-4-1024x711.jpg" alt="" data-id="39653" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39653" class="wp-image-39653" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-4.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-4-300x208.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-4-600x417.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-4-768x533.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede, congratulating an award winner. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



The goal was to bring together leading, influential women to share their ideas that are idea-focused, and on a wide range of subjects, to foster learning, inspiration and wonder – and provoke conversations that matter. The 2019 theme for the event was the “New Wealth Creators”.



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS13-1024x682.jpg" alt="" data-id="39668" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39668" class="wp-image-39668" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS13.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS13-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS13-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS13-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Forbes Woman Africa Cover Stars &#8211; The New Wealth Creators. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="493" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS15.jpg" alt="" data-id="39669" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39669" class="wp-image-39669" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS15.jpg 800w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS15-300x185.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS15-600x370.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS15-768x473.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Panel Discussion: The Blue Economy: New Wealth From African&#8217;s Ocean. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="657" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS17-1024x657.jpg" alt="" data-id="39666" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39666" class="wp-image-39666" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS17.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS17-300x192.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS17-600x385.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS17-768x493.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Panel Discussion: South Africa&#8217;s Young Intellectuals. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS19.jpg" alt="" data-id="39667" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39667" class="wp-image-39667" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS19.jpg 800w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS19-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS19-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS19-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Panel Discussion: The Future Economy: How CEOs Can Lead Value Creation. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



The <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="New Wealth Creators list (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/11/the-businesses-of-the-future-20-new-wealth-creators-on-the-african-continent/" target="_blank">New Wealth Creators list</a>, which is the first of its kind, was unveiled at the Summit. It is collection of female entrepreneurs on the African continent running businesses and social enterprises that are new, offbeat and radical. 



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Naomi Campbell: Africa Is One Of The Leading Continents In The World (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/08/naomi-campbell-africa-is-one-of-the-leading-continents-in-the-world/" target="_blank">Naomi Campbell: Africa Is One Of The Leading Continents In The World</a>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="768" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-7.jpg" alt="" data-id="39656" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39656" class="wp-image-39656" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-7.jpg 960w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-7-300x240.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-7-600x480.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-7-768x614.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /><figcaption>Sonto Mayise (KZN Convention Burea) and Roberta Naicker (MD of the ABN Group). Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="923" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS10.png" alt="" data-id="39658" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39658" class="wp-image-39658" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS10.png 923w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS10-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS10-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS10-768x510.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 923px) 100vw, 923px" /><figcaption>Renuka Methil and Salomi Wahi. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-61-1024x682.jpg" alt="" data-id="39671" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39671" class="wp-image-39671" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-61.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-61-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-61-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-61-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS221.jpg" alt="" data-id="39672" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39672" class="wp-image-39672" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS221.jpg 800w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS221-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS221-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS221-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></figure></li></ul>



READ MORE |<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" Naomi Campbell Announced As Headline Speaker For The 2019 Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/02/07/naomi-campbell-announced-as-headline-speaker-for-the-2019-forbes-woman-africa-leading-women-summit/" target="_blank"> Naomi Campbell Announced As Headline Speaker For The 2019 Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit</a>



The Summit celebrated a host of female trailblazers, game-changers and pioneers in African business and society. 



Supermodel, philanthropist and cultural innovator, Naomi Campbell was the headline speaker among other global influencers in business, sport, science, entertainment and leadership.



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="600" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS211.jpg" alt="" data-id="39674" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39674" class="wp-image-39674" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS211.jpg 750w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS211-300x240.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS211-600x480.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption>Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-51-1024x682.jpg" alt="" data-id="39675" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39675" class="wp-image-39675" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-51.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-51-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-51-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-51-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-10 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="511" height="768" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-10.jpg" alt="" data-id="39664" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39664" class="wp-image-39664" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-10.jpg 511w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-10-300x451.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS-10-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 511px) 100vw, 511px" /><figcaption>Nomfundo Gumele. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="480" height="600" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS20.jpg" alt="" data-id="39665" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=39665" class="wp-image-39665" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS20.jpg 480w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS20-300x375.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LWS20-240x300.jpg 240w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /><figcaption>Simidele Adeagbo, Winter Olympic Athlete. Picture: GABHISATV</figcaption></figure></li></ul>

Gugu-and-Naomi

IN PICTURES | Leading Women Summit 2019

NWC8

Businesses Of The Future: 20 New Wealth Creators On The African Continent

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.



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“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

From auditioning for the formidable female lead in one of South Africa’s most popular soapie, Generations, to now offering a chance to aspiring actors in her own productions,



Connie Ferguson’s is now looking for billions in the business world. 



READ FULL STORY | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Lights Camera Connie! (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2018/10/15/lights-camera-connie/" target="_blank">Lights Camera Connie!</a>



Video Produced by Forbes Woman Africa Multimedia journalist Karen Mwendera.

connie

WATCH | The making of 2018’s most popular Forbes Woman Africa cover – Connie  Ferguson

Nompumelelo (Mpoomy) Ledwaba is the darling of social media. In a mere 12 months, she has grown her Instagram following to close to 100,000.

The 24-year-old was first introduced to the media-crazy masses when she married South African Idols finalist and recording artist, Brenden Praise (Ledwaba). It intrigued thousands and generated quick clicks, likes and follows. She is today an influencer in her own right.
It is a warm Friday afternoon in Melville, a hip suburb in Johannesburg, South Africa, when we meet Mpoomy and Brenden at their nail and coffee bar located on the bustling 7th Street. The salon is packed with women getting their nails done for the weekend. The room is painted grey and decorated in white and spurts of pink and yellow.
Stars such as Mapaseka Koetle-Nyokong, Mmatema Moremi, Jessica Nkosi and Thickleeyonce come here for nail pampering.
This is a world away from where it all began in Middelburg, a farming and industrial town in eastern South Africa where Mpoomy was born. She moved to Johannesburg to study accounting at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). In her second year, she took on a job as a banker at Investec to pave the way for a career in corporate.
“It was a busy year. I worked from 4PM until midnight or from midnight till 8AM. In between, I had classes to attend. It was fun at first until I got bored and frustrated,” says Mpoomy.
It marked the beginning of a journey that broke and built her.
First, she quit her job.
“I didn’t diagnose it as depression but now because I understand what depression is, I know it could have been that,” she says.
Then, she did something no one thought she would.
It was in one of UJ’s exam halls where she was scheduled to take her finance exam. On this day, she says she was well-prepared. The examiner gave students 10 minutes reading time before the exam started. During this time, students plan their answers to the questions but Mpoomy says she was planning a business.
“When the examiner said ‘you may start’, I hadn’t read through the exam questions. I tried to page through it but I just couldn’t start. I stood up and I left the room and I never went back,” she says.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2015/04/01/the-man-in-the-beauty-business/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: The Man In The Beauty Business</a>
It was a brave move. She had no money, no experience and she knew her parents would not be impressed.
“I went home to my parents immediately. I think my mom knew this could happen. She wasn’t shocked but she was hurt… My dad was upset. I stayed home for a day and my mom told me to go back to Johannesburg to write my exam and I refused but still went back to Johannesburg.”
Her father cut her off financially. It was time for Mpoomy to fend for herself. The road to entrepreneurship was cold, lonely and frustrating.
“I didn’t even ask my dad why he wasn’t sending me money anymore. I knew I had lost the right to do so because I had decided to be an adult by making that decision. He didn’t owe me anything. I was hurt and upset but I’m grateful that happened because it gave me the push to hustle. I even tried to borrow R10,000 ($703) from my mother to do a nail course and she refused,” she says.
Although the plan was not clear and everyone around her said she was making a mistake, Mpoomy says she had faith her dream to open a nail business would one day come true.
<blockquote>“I spent my days crying and praying. It was a tough time. I knew I had made the right decision but everyone and everything around me tried to break me,” she says.</blockquote>
According to Mpoomy, Brenden, her then boyfriend and now husband, is the only one who shared the same faith.
“He was there with me all the way no matter what. He supported me and told me everything will be ok,” says the now-pregnant Mpoomy.
While trying to find her way, she joined a modeling agency. Her first job was a billboard and a TV advert that paid her R22,000 ($1,546). Following in her father’s footsteps, she invested it in a cleaning business.
“My dad’s business started as a cleaning company. He was a hustler trying to figure things out. Now, he manufactures various cleaning products and has a safety line…one day, when I was home, my mom was reading a magazine and came across an article that listed 10 businesses that require no startup capital and she showed it to me and I knew I had to start,” says Mpoomy.
She made a flier of her new-born cleaning business and posted it on WhatsApp groups. She found her first customers. She ran it for a year until she had to clean client homes herself.
“In December, all my helpers went home for the holidays and I had to clean for our clients. It was tough and I learned you can’t start a business in something you don’t know or you are not passionate about,” she says.
In January 2017, she got married and Brenden gave her R15,000 ($1,054) to go to nail school.
“He had just paid lobola and we had just gotten married which didn’t come cheap and now he had just invested in my education. Although my fees were paid, we didn’t have money for transport. At our wedding, someone gave us an envelope with R2,000 ($140) and that is what we used,” says Mpoomy, her eyes watering.
Life got tougher.
“We sacrificed everything we had to get started. We had financial problems at the time. It was the first year of our marriage and we had so many things to do. We just worried about getting through the day. I remember there was one time I didn’t know if we were going to have food for the rest of the month,” she says.
After three months, she was ready to get working experience but no one would hire her. She then mounted a poster on her car advertising her services and started a mobile nail salon.
“I did my nails every three days. We would go to a restaurant every week because they have a lunch special for R50 ($3) that comes with unlimited wifi. We would download videos so I learned how to be better.”
The mobile salon grew and she started making about R1,000 ($70) a day. She knew it was time to grow, open a shop and employ staff. With the help of a mentor, she opened Aneno Nail &amp; Coffee Bar.
<div id="attachment_37613" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37613" class="wp-image-37613 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mpumi-153-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="494" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mpumi-153-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mpumi-153-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mpumi-153-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mpumi-153-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Mpumi-153.jpg 1654w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" />Mphoomy Ledwaba. Photo by Motlabana Monnakgotla</div>
“A week before our opening, I asked a family friend, who is a celebrity, to help me by coming to my nail bar and have her nails done for free and advertise on social media so I can get clients, but she undermined me. I could tell from the way she looked at me. She told me she works with big brands…I was hurt but I understood that you don’t need anyone to make something successful. God is the one who makes things happen.”
Today, she employs six people and plans to get into the hair industry, create a nail product line and then franchise the business. This is definitely not the last time you hear about this small-town girl with big dreams.

Mpumi-182

The University Drop Out Who Built A Beauty Business

The small-town designer dressing up the rich and famous.

Matome waga Seshoka wants to take African haute couture to the world.
I meet him at his studio in the leafy suburb of Northcliff in Johannesburg. On this Monday afternoon, everything is running behind schedule. First, I am slightly late for the interview, and then, the model is delayed by an hour and the makeup artist has the wrong call-time.
Delays have always played a big part in Seshoka’s entrepreneurial journey.
He came to Johannesburg 14 years ago to study credit management at Technikon Witwatersrand, (TWR), now called the University of Johannesburg.
“It was difficult for my mother to understand this whole fashion thing. She questioned how fashion can be a career. Where we are from, you have to be a teacher, a doctor, or one of those careers. So I went to study credit management,” says the proud Sepedi-speaking designer.
Seshoka says he disliked it. He dropped out three years in. Although delayed, he swapped it for an education in fashion and has never looked back.
<div id="attachment_37600" style="width: 693px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37600" class="wp-image-37600 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-683x1024.jpg" alt="" width="683" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-300x450.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-600x900.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-768x1151.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842.jpg 1366w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" />Matome-waga Seshoka with model, Tholakele Mutjideni, in his studio in Northcliff Johannesburg. Photo by Motlabanna Monakgotla.</div>
<blockquote>“Straight out of school, I started my business. The first few years were a bit hectic, now things are starting to look up,” says Seshoka.</blockquote>
Born and raised in Ga-Matlala, a rural area in Limpopo, 370km from Johannesburg, Seshoka has defied all odds to build a successful fashion brand and dress the who’s who of the entertainment industry.
He named it Antherline Couture, after his mother. She raised three boys as a single parent.
It wasn’t easy. Seshoka had to walk about 45 minutes to school every day.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/entrepreneurs/2018/05/07/from-football-to-fashion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: From Football To Fashion</a>
At the beginning of his journey, he says he didn’t know where to specialize. He started off doing everything, from street wear to menswear, until he fell in love with African print and haute couture. At the time, African-inspired wedding gowns were in demand. He grabbed the fabric with both hands.
“When I was doing my third year, I received an order for a December wedding. The client saw my work at the Sew Africa fashion show. By the time I graduated, I already had an order. It was a quite a big order and ended up having to ask people that I went to school with to help me, so I hired them. By the time it was done, I had a startup.”
The job paid Seshoka $2,805, enough to buy three sewing machines, one overlocking machine, pay the deposit and rent for a shop and staff salaries for two months.
Kamogelo Rankoko was one of his first employees.
“We were still struggling a little, we used a domestic machine and it wasn’t strong enough for the kind of work we were doing, but we got the wedding done, and they were happy,” says Rankoko.
After this exciting job, more delays. The next three years were the hardest. There were no clients and pockets were empty.
“I ended up having to look for a job, lecturing fashion in parts of Gauteng for a year. With my salary, I could cover rent and staff salaries, because [earlier], I would come back and the lights would be off or the doors would be locked because I didn’t pay rent. If there wasn’t a plan, there wouldn’t be a plan because I was the plan,” says Seshoka.
The big break came when he got his first celebrity client, Tokelo Rantie, a South African national and international football player.
“I remember my first celebrity wedding, I did Tokelo Rantie, then I did Sello Maake kaNcube’s wedding. That’s when people started knowing about us. From there forth, I started doing celebrity weddings,” he says.
The brand blossomed and everybody wanted to work with him.

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The business grew through word-of-mouth and nine years in, it has over 37,000 followers on Instagram and his clients have been named Durban July’s best dressed celebrities for the last four years.
His client list is rich with local and international stars such as Anthony Hamilton, Kenny Lattimore, Oleta Adams, Julius Malema, Nhlanhla Nciza and Khanyi Mbau.
“I met Matome through a friend a year ago; ever since I met him, I have been very loyal to him and he is the only one that dresses me for the red carpet. Matome is one of the people who believed in me when everybody thought I wasn’t big enough of a star to be dressed by them. But he welcomed me into his arms. So it’s Matome or nothing,” says Motsoaledi Setumo, a South African soapie star.
Seshoka’s career may have encountered delays but there is no stopping this small-town lad with international dreams.
&nbsp;

Antherline-876

Taking African Haute Couture To The World

Nigerian polo player Neku Atawodi is excited about the future of polo in Africa and its ability to bring people together from all walks of life

Polo is fast becoming a popular sport for millennial women in Nigeria, and they are a common sight at the upscale Lagos Polo Club.
What was once an elite sport is now more accessible.olo is fast becoming a popular sport for millennial women in Nigeria, and they are a common sight at the upscale Lagos Polo Club.
It’s a far cry from the sport’s early years that completely banned women such as American polo pioneer Sue Sally Hale from playing in the 1950s.
Hale’s response was to disguise herself as a man by tucking her ash-colored hair under a helmet, flattening her breasts with tape and wearing loose-fitting men’s shirts and a moustache for nearly 20 years. She finally dispensed with the ruse in 1972 when the US Polo Association bowed to pressure and admitted her to its ranks. Her story reverberated all over the world and to Nigeria’s Benue State, where a young lady named Neku Atawodi was duly inspired to take up the sport.
Known popularly as Nigeria’s ‘polo queen’ and one of the few black women in the sport internationally, Atawodi is an equestrian for life.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/focus/2014/02/01/polo-playing-entrepreneur-calls-dangote-brother/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: The Polo Playing Entrepreneur Who Calls Dangote Brother</a>
“I grew up in Kaduna and that is a very polo town. They are very influenced by horse-riding and durbars and so Kaduna had an affinity towards polo but also, my uncle lived next door and he had horses in his backyard. I remember watching polo events and falling in love with them when I was in junior secondary school. I loved everything from the horses to the players. I started riding with everyone,” she says.
With the riders maneuvering the magnificent horses under the mellow Nigerian sun, hooves kicking up dust, she fell in love with the ‘sport of kings’.
After taking a break from polo, during which time she got married, had a child and became the country director of the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) training tech entrepreneurs, Atawodi returned to the sport in August for the United Kingdom’s first-ever Africa-dedicated polo event, the Lux Afrique Polo Day that celebrated the sport and the best of pan-African history and culture.
The event brought together leading polo players from across Africa to champion the rapidly-growing sport and provide a platform for young and emerging African talent to showcase their skills. For Atawodi, it was time to get back to the basics.
“It is really intense. After having a child, it is a lot of things you need to get back to like the gym and working on flexibility and endurance and then a lot of riding. I have to work a lot on my hand-to-eye coordination. I play a lot of tennis as well as do a lot of cardio,” says Atawodi.
Despite several infrastructural challenges playing the sport in Nigeria, including a lack of well-developed training programs encouraging people to enter the sport as well as limited fields to play on, Atawodi is excited about the future of the sport and its ability to bring people from all walks of life together.
“We are at a time where Africa is telling its own stories in so many different industries. So for it to also now come in things like polo, with different parts of Africa coming together to play the sport and showcase skills, is amazing. It fosters great strength and African unity and I am really looking forward to it,” says the African queen of the ‘sport of kings’.

Tag: Forbes Woman Africa

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