Two Tanzanians named among 100 most influential Africans

London-based magazine New African has released its annual 100 Most Influential African People List for 2023; among those on the list are Tanzanians Elizabeth Maruma Mrema and Marie Mbullu.

Chosen for her passion for biodiversity and the environment at large, Ms Mrema, who is the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is regarded as one of the world’s most prolific biodiversity champions and activists.

She took up the UNEP position in early 2023—an ideal role given the current discourse on climate change, which is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss.

In her role, she is keen on using her experience to help find lasting solutions.

A lawyer by profession, she has spent more than 20 years in various roles with the UN agency. But one of her defining roles was as Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), part of UNEP, a post she held from 2020 until her current appointment.

Ms Mrema is also co-chair of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, whose mission is to encourage businesses to shift investments from destructive activities toward those that restore and protect nature.

She was listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.

Marie Mbullu is a Tanzanian-American student and a popular TikTok creator. She runs the account Habari Njema, which means “good news” in Swahili, and utilises her platform to disseminate positive and informative content about Africa, covering topics such as culture, history, politics, innovation, and travel.

She has over 650,000 followers and 8 million likes on TikTok. Impressively, her posts have garnered more than 24 million cumulative views and counting.

Mbullu epitomises a new generation of digital-savvy content creators and storytellers in Africa who are leveraging the power of social media to tell their stories and generate wealth.

The list celebrates the achievements and contributions of Africans from various fields and sectors, who have made a positive impact on the continent and the world.

“The list features a diverse and inspiring group of men and women who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, leadership, resilience, and vision in their respective domains. They include politicians, entrepreneurs, industrialists, environmentalists, creatives, scientists, educators, sports personalities, and more,” a statement by the magazine said.

“The list also reflects the shifting trends and priorities in Africa, as the continent faces new challenges and opportunities in the post-pandemic era,” the statement adds.

The magazine also said Nigeria was the country most represented on the list, highlighting the country’s dominance in the creative sector and business. It featured 18 people among the 100.
 

With that said, below are the 100 Africans mentioned on the list.

Public office

Ibrahima Cheikh Diong(Senegal)

Dr Sidi Ould Tah(Mauritania)

President William Ruto(Kenya)

Tidjane Thiam(Côte D'Ivoire)

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala(Nigeria)

President Bola Tinubu(Nigeria)

Mamady Doumbouya(Guinea)

Nadia Fettah Alaoui(Morocco)

Tsitsi Masiyiwa(Zimbabwe)

Ousmane Sonko(Senegal)

Akinwumi Adesina(Nigeria)

Business

Didier Acouetey(Togo)

Bahija Jallal(Morocco)

André De Ruyter(South Africa)

Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah(Nigeria)

Riham ElGizy(Egypt)

Samaila Zubairu(Nigeria)

Simon Tiemtoré(Burkina Faso)

Ham Serunjogi(Uganda)

Karim Beguir(Tunisia)

Ralph Mupita(Zimbabwe)

Aliko Dangote(Nigeria)

Mohamed Kande(Côte D'Ivoire)

Ibrahim Sagna(Senegal)

Shola Akinlade(Nigeria)

Serge Ekué(Benin)

Jules Ngankam(Cameroon)

Hassanein Hiridjee(Madagascar)

Sim Tshabalala(South Africa)

Bernard Koné Dossongui(Côte D'Ivoire)

Coura Sène(Senegal)

Pascal Agboyibor(Togo)

Olugbenga Agboola(Nigeria)

James Mwangi(Kenya)

Science and Academia

Moungi Bawendi(Tunisia)

Nemat Talaat Shafik(Egypt)

Timnit Gebru(Eritrea)

Ismahane Elouafi(Morocco)

Chao Tayiana Maina(Kenya)

Anna Adeola Makanju(Nigeria)

Ali Said Alamin Mandhry(Kenya)

Teju Cole(Nigeria)

DJ Snake(Algeria)

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah(Ghana)

Omoyemi Akerele(Nigeria)

David Diop(Senegal)

Aïda Muluneh(Ethiopia)

Tems(Nigeria)

Pierre Thiam(Senegal)

Serge Attukwei Clottey(Ghana)

Bassem Youssef(Egypt)

Editi Effiong(Nigeria)

Burna Boy(Nigeria)

Tyla Laura Seethal(South Africa)

Alice Diop(Senegal)

Kaouther Ben Hania(Tunisia)

Gims(DRC)

Thebe Magugu(South Africa)

Danai Gurira(Zimbabwe)

Mulenga Kapwepwe(Zambia)

Ncuti Gatwa(Rwanda)

Pretty Yende(South Africa)

Black Coffee(South Africa)

Mariam Issoufou Kamara(Niger)

Wanuri Kahiu(Kenya)

Malenga Mulendema(Zambia)

Abel Tesfaye(Ethiopia)

Victor Ekpuk(Nigeria)

Jadesola Osiberu(Nigeria)

Julie Mehretu(Ethiopia)

Lesley Lokko(Ghana)

Environmental

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema(Tanzania)

Rashid Sumaila(Nigeria/Ghana)

Irungu Mwangi(Kenya)

Dr Musonda Mumba(Zambia)

Ephraim Mwepya Shitima(Zambia)

Wanjira Mathai(Zambia)

Media

Fabrice Sawegnon(Côte D'Ivoire)

Wode Maya(Ghana)

Edward Enninful(Ghana)

Charity Ekezie(Nigeria)

Uncle Mo(Uganda)

Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard(Gabon)

Alan Kasujja(Uganda)

Khaby Lame(Senegal)

Chioma Nnadi(Nigeria)

Anton Harber(South Africa)

Daniel Ahaoussa(Côte D'Ivoire)

Marie Mbullu(Tanzania)

Tomiwa Aladekomo(Nigeria)

Claude Grunitzky(Togo)

Branko Brkic(South Africa)

Sports

Patrice Motsepe(South Africa)

Victor Osmihen(Nigeria)

Yassine Bounou(Morocco)

Francis Ngannou(Cameroon)

Kelvin Kiptum(Kenya)

Faith Kipyegon(Kenya)

Biniam Girmay(Eritrea)

The Springboks(South Africa)