Forbes’ 10 Youngest Power Men In Africa

September 14, 2011 by Brown Shuga

Forbes contributor, Mfonobong Nsehe put together this list of 10 Young African Men under 40 who are influential in business and politics. I found it interesting and thought I’d share. His blog’s got a bit more information than I’ve put here so you can check it out on this link HERE.

1. Joseph Kabila, Congolese, President, Democratic Republic of Congo

When he was 29, Kabila became the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after his father, former President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in a coup attempt at the height of a cataclysmic civil war. He is seeking re-election during November’s Presidential elections.

2. Julius Malema, South African, President of the ANCYL

Malema 30, is the president of the Youth League of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC). Malema has been labeled by President Zuma as a future leader of South Africa.

3. Mark Shuttleworth, South African, Founder, Ubuntu

In 1995, at the age of 22, Shuttleworth founded Thawte, a digital certificate and internet security company that he later sold to American software giant VeriSign for over $500 million, ploughing the proceeds to fund a tech incubator and venture capital firm. But Shuttleworth is most famous for his founding of Ubuntu, a computer operating system which is distributed as free open source software.

4. Fred Swaniker- Founder, African Leadership Academy

Fred Swaniker, 34, a Ghanaian-born serial entrepreneur, Business consultant and Mckinsey alumnus is the founder of the African Leadership Academy- a World-class coeducational, residential secondary boarding school in Johannesburg, South-Africa which recruits outstanding students from across Africa and prepares them for a future of leadership.

5. Acha Leke, Cameroonian, Partner, Mckinsey & Company

One of Africa’s most sought after business consultants, Leke, 38, is a partner at McKinsey & Company. The brainy Cameroonian has the ear of the top dogs at multinational corporations whom he helps with strategy setting, investment decisions, corporate finance and turn-around strategies among other things.

6. James Mworia, Kenyan, Chief Executive Officer, Centum Investments

At only 33, Mworia is the chief executive officer of Centum, one of East Africa’s largest private equity firms. Centum has a cross-listing on both the Nairobi and Ugandan stock exchanges, and has substantial regional equity investments in blue chips like Coca-Cola, UAP Insurance and Kenya Commercial Bank. Mworia has been instrumental in pursuing Centum’s regional expansion into new territory like Mauritius and Nigeria.

7. Euvin Naidoo, South African, President of the South African Chamber of Commerce in America

A Mckinsey alumnus, Euvin Naidoo is the president of the South African Chamber of Commerce in America (SACCA), and is one of the most renowned advocates for western investments in Africa.

8. Gachao Kiuna, Kenyan. CEO, Transcentury Group

Kiuna (now 33) bagged a PhD in biotechnology from Cambridge at the age of 24; went on to work for McKinsey & Company in Johannesburg where he helped in advising corporate clients on strategy and finance; advised the government of Kenya on the development of the Vision 2030 project.

9. David Munro, South African. Chief Executive Office, Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Bank Group

In July, Munro, 38, was appointed the Chief Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking at the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest financial services provider. Munro was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2009.

10. Andry Rajoelina – Transitional President, Madagascar

The former disc-jockey was once the mayor of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. In 2009, he seized power in a widely condemned military coup, subsequently declaring himself the transitional head of the state of Madagascar. At 37, Rajoelina is the youngest head of government on the continent.

Inspiring huh… It’s Mfonobong’s own list so let’s not chop if we disagree. I’m becoming quite a fan of his work and he’s got a lot of other interesting lists.

Some of the ones I liked include:

The 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa - South Africans in this list include Khanyi Dhlomo, Yolanda Cuba (CEO Mvelaphanda), Lisa Kropman (Entrepreneur), Jonitha Gugu Msibi (Senior Partner at Ernst & Young),
The Five Richest Pastors In Nigeria - Bishop David Oyedepo ($150 Million), Pastor Chris ($30 -$50 Million), Temitope Joshua, who owns EmmanuelTV ($10 – $15 Million), Matthew Ashimolovo ($6 – $10 Million) and Pastor Okotie ($3 – $10 Million)

He’s also asking for help in putting together a list of 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa. If you have nominations, send them through to him on mnsehe (at) forbes.com

If we were to put your name on a Power List, right this minute, what list would that be?

Are you happy with being on that list?

It’s sold at CNA,Exclusive Books,Gospel Direct,and other books stores and will be in all stores next year. It is a Christian magazine that I’ve been buying since I came to Joburg and, but now they have made it a lifestyle magazine so it was not on shelves for some time undergoing revamp it is now a lifestyle mag founed on christian principles with everything else that you find on other mags, very rich in content beautiful fashion spread done by the same guy who did the Destiny one. Check my Twitter Avie!

Lwazi2711 on Thu, 15th Sep 2011 12:47 pm

There is nothing more inspiring than people changing their careers and doing something totally different and making a success of it. The stories of Gachao Kiuna are Andry Rajoelina are exactly that. I mean earning a PhD in Biotechnology and then going into an unrelated business… Wow. And having your former club DJ heading up government? Amazing!
I knew what Ubuntu was but I didn’t know Shuttleworth was the one who came up with it. Some people have some serious business acumen in their veins… If I had such a mind, I wouldn’t gone this deep into books yho!

RexonaABC on Thu, 15th Sep 2011 12:57 pm

@Nthoentle, hai Juju 30, he looks like he is around ma 39, and i have been wondering why it’s calle youth league when some comrades are beyond 35 ha ha ha no pun.

Wild Island on Thu, 15th Sep 2011 2:11 pm

If we were to put your name on a Power List, right this minute, what list would that be?

up and coming female dj’s…:) me right there bo zintle abaemenyana pls lol

Wild Island on Thu, 15th Sep 2011 2:21 pm

OH lELA IVE READ THAT MAG ONCE YAZ..I AM BUSY BUYING “lEADERSHIP AND bLAQ MAGS” to read up abt everything and everyone ku financial secotr but mina ne truth be told i’ be ko list ya medical field or where do ACTUARIES feuture in this whole thing….as monei said yaz ama parents can lead u astray just cos they’r paying for yo fees..i was n A student maths,sch,bio he ngaye medunsa got accepted tjo only to be told on the phone by my dad to get my butt to wits ngiyoyenza i accounting i was lost frm the word go naki=umanje nghleli nawo lama qualifications not practising my articles cos thats not MEEEEEEEE,,,,eish and sad part when ever i see my friends who are DR’s now i get so mad and jelas mxxnm…yaz*kiks her desk*

Julious mxnm kethaka yamang sheeee

Spice on Thu, 15th Sep 2011 8:46 pm

Tjo Richest pastors…why vele. Are they not suppose to be man of God. I suppose soon will see Pastor Vusi Dube as one of the richest in SA.
Juju, well done my boy. I would have loved to see the Rhodes scholor Kopano Matlwa being recognized in this reputable magazine as well.
These young men and women, they make me so envious. Have to read more books, i suppose.

Tinashe on Fri, 16th Sep 2011 4:17 pm

i respect this Shuttleworth guy…Well Juju *jus shakes head, and keeps quiet*

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Forbes’ 10 Youngest Power Men In Africa

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