Africa’s Top 30 Under 30 Inspirational Young People 2016
This year’s list identifies young Africans, mostly below 30 years of age, who are doing remarkable work in their countries to facilitate development in the lives of people in their communities and throughout the continent.
Check out Africa’s 30 most inspirational young people under the age 30 below:
1. Mixo Ngoveni, South Africa
Mixo Fortune Ngoveni is a young Tech entrepreneur, Mobile ninja, Connector, Social media geek, a member of Tedx Pretoria organizing team and Founder/CEO of Geekulcha. In 2010 he represented his institution, Tshwane University of Technology, at the Microsoft Imagine Cup local finals.In 2011 Microsoft selected him as one of 6 students in the country to become Microsoft Student Partners. He is currently an alumni MSP. His work with Geekulcha and the young tech minds has been profiled and published by the World Bank and Info Dev in the form of a case study and mini documentary video.
2. Hellen Dausen, Tanzania
Not many former beauty queens can say they left the money of the runways for entrepreneurship; lost money before they started and picked up the pieces to build a business in Zanzibar from the ground up. When she first started, after making an investment in a soap making plant in her parents’ backyard, the regulating authorities deemed it not up to standard and instructed her to destroy it. Dausen (29), a 2010 Miss Universe Tanzania, showed resilience like no other and carried on. She built her handmade natural bath and body care brand, Nuya’s Essence, against the odds. A few weeks later, she called the authorities back for another inspection. This time she made sure they could find no fault.
3. Jane Ekanem, Nigeria
Jane Michael Ekanem (30) is a celebrity fashion stylist and entrepreneur. Jane officially began her career as a celebrity stylist in 2009 when she got contracted to style the contestants and hosts of MTN Project Fame. Jane’s celebrity dressing clients have included: Yemi Alade, Tiwa Savage, Sevi Shay, Mo’Cheddah, Tolu Oniru, Waje, and many other high profile celebrities. Jane has worked with Nigeria’s biggest celebrity photographers from Kelechi Amadi Obi, Reze Bonna, Hakeem Salam and Moussa Moussa to Obi Somto, Emmanuel Oyeleke, August Udoh and more, to create both high fashion and commercial looks. Jane Michael was recently featured on CNN’s African Voices as the stylist behind some of Nigeria’s hottest celebrities.
4. Ntando Duma, South Africa
Ntando Duma is a South African actress and television personality best known as the presenter on e.tv’s youth programming block, Craz-e, where she has predominantly featured on Craz-e World live. She is also best known for her portrayal of Zinzi Dandala on e.tv’s soap opera Rhythm City. Ntando is also a model and she was part of 2015 Soweto Fashion week runaway. She is the founder of a foundation called Inspire A Teen SA.
5. Rhuveneko Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe
Rhuveneko made a name for herself as a journalist and activist, as well as recently been placed at number 23 on the 100 Most Influential Young Zimbabweans under 40. A talk show host on Zimbabwe’s fastest growing and first ever private radio station in Zimbabwe, ZiFM Stereo, she holds a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Media, Writing and Political Science and a Post-graduate Diploma in Marketing from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
