THE FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 CLASS OF 2022 CARE ABOUT BEING VISIONARIES OF CHANGE AND CATALYSTS FOR INNOVATION. BEING ON THE MOST-ANTICIPATED LIST ON THE CONTINENT, FOR THESE YOUNG TRAILBLAZERS, IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMMERCE AND CLOUT BUT ABOUT ENSURING THEY REPRESENT WELL THEIR COUNTRIES AND THE DIVERSE, HETEROGENEOUS AFRICA THEY WANT TO SERVE. CELEBRATING ITS EIGHTH EDITION, THE LIST THIS YEAR FEATURES THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST, BUT IMPORTANTLY, THE MOST RESILIENT, WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO NOT ONLY SHINE A LIGHT ON THE ISSUES PLAGUING AFRICA’S GROWTH IN A PANDEMIC ERA BUT ALSO WORK TOWARDS SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE, ONE TINY, TENACIOUS STEP AT A TIME.
Making it to the inner sanctum of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is no mean feat. The process began in October last year on our online platform that saw over a thousand applications and nominations
streaming in. If successful, to proceed to the second round, nominees needed to provide valid evidence of their endeavors and ventures.
Each year, the process gets even more stringent at this stage. We also gleaned suggestions from our
30 Under 30 alum, employing the same rigorous process as last year to whittle the list down to 30 finalists across the business, technology, sports, health and creative sectors.
For yet another year, SNG Grant Thornton came on board as our audit partners to assess company financials from losses to growth margins to overall revenue and profits since incorporation. Background checks were conducted on the potential listers, which included going through documentation such as police clearance certificates to ensure that they had no criminal record, troubling lawsuits/bankruptcies and allegations of crime, misconduct, sexual harassment/abuse or fraud charges against them.
The finalists were vetted by the editorial team and a panel of high-profile judges and subject-matter experts. Our judging panel’s comments are testimony to some.
Words and Curation: Chanel Retief
Art Director: Lucy Nkosi
Additional Research & Reporting: Lillian Roberts
Photography: Ilan Godfrey for Forbes
Videography and production: Timothy Pierson for Forbes & Chad McClymonds for Forbes
Video Editor: Chanel Retief
Styling: Katlego Magano of Oak Ave; Assistant: Tumelo Nkwe
Hair & Makeup: SnehhOnline Beauty; Thapelo Letsebe
Location: Image Lounge, Botswana and 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit