From fighting the pandemic to reengineering politics in Africa, these influential women—including Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E.), Samia Suluhu Hassan (H.E.), presidents of Ethiopia and Tanzania, respectively and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Trade Organization Director-General —are making history.

The list, which celebrates African women from various backgrounds in business leadership, academia, diplomacy, philanthropy, entertainment and media, is the third publication from Avance Media since 2019.

The 2021 list was put together with inspiration from the 2021 International Women’s Day theme: “Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, and it features women from 28 African countries who inspire the next generation of women around the world.

Prince Akpah, Managing Director of Avance Media, in his foreword to the 2021 issue, noted that the honourees qualified for this deserving honour because of their works and accomplishments, which continue to inspire a lot of young people across the African continent and beyond. According to him, the 100 influential African women were selected based on their leadership & personal accomplishments, commitment to sharing knowledge and the audacity to break several status quos.

Some notable names on the list include Allen Kagina Executive Director og Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf- Former President of Liberia; Sahle-Work Zedwe- Ethiopian President; Angele Makombo- President, League of Congolese Democrats; Aja Fatouma Tambjang, Former Vice President of Gambia and Amina J Mohamed- United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh first African Woman to head IBM’s operation in Africa as Regional Head and Executive Director, Angelique Kidjo from Benin and Aya Namakura a French-Malian singer.

The youngest honouree to make the list for the second time is Namibia’s Deputy ICT Minister, Hon. Emma Theofelus. Below is the complete list of Avance Media’s 2021 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order.

1. Agnes Binagwaho (Prof)
   Vice-Chancellor
   University of Global Health Equity
2. Agnes Matilda Kalibata (Dr)
   CEO, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
3. Ahunna Eziakonwa || Director, UNDP Africa
4. Aisha Yesufu || Activist
5. Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang (H.E.)
   Former Vice-President, Gambia
6. Allen Kagina
   Executive Director, Uganda National Roads Authority.
7. Amina J. Mohammed (H.E.)
   Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
8. Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh
   Regional Head, IBM North, East and West Africa
9. Angèle Makombo || President, League of Congolese Democrats
10. Angélique Kidjo || Musician
11. Anne Waiguru (H.E.) || Governor, Kirinyaga County
12. Athaliah Molokomme || Permanent Representative of Botswana to the U.N.
13. Awa Ndiaye-Seck || Resident Representative UN Women, Democratic Republic of the Congo
14. Aya Nakamura || Musician
15. Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu || CEO, soleRebels
16. Bience Gawanas || Executive Consultant, Gawanas Consulting
17. Busiswa Gqulu || Musician
18. Charity Ngilu (H.E.) || Governor, Kitui County
19. Chebet Chikumbu || Africa Director, Global Citizen
20. Chileshe Kapwepwe (H.E.) || Secretary General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
21. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie || Novelist
22. Damilola Ogunbiyi || CEO, Sustainable Energy for All
23. Djamila Ferdjani (Dr) || Medical Doctor, MedCom
24. Dorothy Ghettuba || Content Manager for Africa, Netflix
25. Dorothy Kisaka || Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority
26. Edith Yah Brou || Blogger
27. Elizabeth M. Mrema || Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
28. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (H.E.) || Chair, EJS Centre
29. Emma Theofelus || Deputy Minister, Namibia
30. Eve Bazaiba || Deputy Prime Minister, DRC
31. Fatima Kyari Mohammed (H.E.) || Permanent Representative, African Union Mission to the U.N.
32. Fatoumata Ba || Founder, Janngo Africa
33. Faustina Fynn-Nyame || Executive Director for Africa, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
34. Filsan Abdullahi || Minister of Gender, Children and Youth, Ethiopia
35. Frehiwot Tamru || CEO, Ethio Telecom
36. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka (Dr) || CEO, Conservation Through Public Health
37. Graça Machel || Founder, Graca Machel Trust
38. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim || Coordinator, Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad
39. Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu || CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation
40. Irene Asare || Global H.R. Director, CarvinClay People Development
41. Jacqueline Fatima Bocoum || Journalist
42. Jacqueline Moudeïna || Lawyer
43. Jeannette Kagame (H.E.) || First Lady, Rwanda
44. Jessica Rose Epel Alupo (H.E) || Vice President, Uganda
45. Julienne Lusenge || President, Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development
46. Julitta Onabanjo (Dr) || Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa
47. Kaba Nialé || Minister of Planning and Development, Ivory Coast
48. Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo (Dr.) || Journalist
49. Laureen Kouassi-Olsson || Founder & CEO, Birimian Holding
50. Letty Chiwara || Representative to Ethiopia, A.U. & ECA, U.N. Women
51. Louise Mushikiwabo || Secretary General, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
52. Mamokgethi Phakeng (Prof.) || Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town
53. Mariam Chabi Talata (H.E.) || Vice President, Benin
54. Martha Ama A. Pobee (H.E.) || Assist. Secretary-General for Africa, UN
55. Martha K Koome (Lady Justice) || Chief Justice, Kenya
56. Mary-Jane Morifi || Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Tiger Brands
57. Matshidiso Moeti (Dr) || Regional Director for Africa, WHO
58. Mercy Johnson || Nollywood Actress
59. Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi || CEO, MTN Rwanda
60. Monde Muyangwa (Dr.) || Director of the Africa Program, Woodrow Wilson Center
61. Monique Nsanzabaganwa (H.E.) || Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission
62. Musonda Xoliswa Mumba (Dr) || Chief of the Terrestrial Ecosystems, UNEP
63. Mwele Malecela || Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO
64. Nabou Fall || CEO, Vizeo
65. Nadeen Ashraf || Activist
66. Nafissatou Jocelyne Diop || Chief of Gender and Human Rights, United Nations Population Fund
67. Nancy Matimu || Managing Director, MultiChoice Kenya
68. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala || Director-General, World Trade Organization
69. Nnenna Nwakanma || Chief Web Advocate, WWW Foundation
70. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda || Chairperson, ActionAid International
71. Omotola Jalade Ekeinde || Actress
72. Oulimata Sarr || Regional Director West and Central Africa, UN Women
73. Owen Omogiafo || CEO, Transcorp Group
74. Patricia Obo-Nai || CEO, Vodafone Ghana
75. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka || Executive Director, U.N. Women
76. Rasha Kelej (Dr) || CEO, Merck Foundation
77. Renée Ngamau || Chairperson, Amnesty International Kenya
78. Roberta Annan || Founder, Africa Fashion Foundation
79. Rose Mwebaza || Director, U.N. Climate Technology Centre and Network
80. Rosebell Kagumire || Editor, African Feminism
81. Roselyn Akombe (Dr) || Governance and Peacebuilding Regional Coordinator, UNDP Africa
82. Sahle-Work Zewde (H.E.) || President, Ethiopia
83. Samia Suluhu Hassan (H.E) || President, Tanzania
84. Sheila Ochugboju (Dr) || Head, Strategic Communications, Africa CDC
85. Sola David-Borha || Group CEO, Standard Bank Africa
86. Stella Nyanzi (Dr.) || Convenor, Women’s Protest Uganda
87. Stigmata Tenga (Dr.) || Executive Director, Africa Philanthropy Network
88. Tiguidanke Camara || CEO, Tigui Mining Group
89. Titi Akinsanmi || Policy and Government Relations Lead, Google
90. Tsitsi Dangarembga || Author
91. Ubah Ali || Activist
92. Uche Ofodile || CEO, MTN Benin
93. Victoire Tomegah Dogbé || Prime Minister, Togo
94. Wanjira Mathai || Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
95. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (Dr) || Director, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD)
96. Waris Dirie || CEO, Desert Flower Foundation
97. Winnie Byanyima || Executive Director, UNAIDS
98. Yemisi Akinbobola (Dr) || Co-Founder, African Women in Media
99. Yolanda Cuba || Chief Digital and Fintech Officer, MTN Group
100. Zainab Hawa Bangura || Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi

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