Today’s demonstrations across Berlin, London, and Paris sent a message louder than any political statement: Europeans are no longer willing to watch their societies drift toward instability under the banner of “tolerance.” The crowds that filled the streets were not driven by hatred or exclusion — they were driven by a simple demand that every government should take seriously: security first. For years, extremist networks — especially the Muslim Brotherhood — have learned how to operate behind the shield of religious discourse. They present themselves as community leaders, activists, or “voices of the marginalized,” all while pushing agendas that undermine national cohesion, exploit public freedoms, and create parallel societies. Europe’s mistake was assuming these groups were harmless. But as today’s protests showed, citizens have learned the truth the hard way. They’ve watched radical narratives spread in schools and community centers, foreign-funded networks penetrate local ...
African Forbes Magazine has published its list of the 50 most important and powerful women in the continent. Celebrating women who are redefining the status quo on the continent and, in some cases, worldwide, the list includes media figures, businesswomen, artists, and political leaders.
"They are reshaping history, closing inequalities, and pioneering new avenues of wealth creation and in turn, lifting others with them," says an editorial in the magazine's March issue unveiling the list.
The following strong movers and shakers are among the 50 amazing women on the list; they keep using their voices and platforms to support economic opportunities, access to high-quality education, and the rights of girls and women.
Bonang Matheba, Gauteng
"They are reshaping history, closing inequalities, and pioneering new avenues of wealth creation and in turn, lifting others with them," says an editorial in the magazine's March issue unveiling the list.
The following strong movers and shakers are among the 50 amazing women on the list; they keep using their voices and platforms to support economic opportunities, access to high-quality education, and the rights of girls and women.
Bonang Matheba, Gauteng
Once the list was out, 32-year-old Bonang Matheba tweeted, "From moghel to mogul." Popularized by Matheba's reality TV program Being Bonang, moghel is a South African slang term that roughly translates to homegirl. Matheba dons a lot of hats, the show being only one. She is a sought-after MC, presenter, speaker, and businesswoman whose upscale beverage company, House of BNG, sells sparkling wine.
“Being a powerful woman means that you create your own narrative,” Matheba explains to Forbes. It indicates the strength to defy the existing quo that society has established for women, to be independent, and to make your own choices.
In 2017 Matheba established the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund to support female education by covering the cost of higher institution tuition, stationary, and lodging. She has supported Global Citizen initiatives and spoken before the UN on the need of giving girls' education first priority. Matheba was also a co-host of the historic Mandela 100 Global Citizen Festival, which took place in Johannesburg on December 2, 2018.
Graça Machel, Mozambique and South Africa
One of the most influential and legendary women in Africa is 74-year-old Graça Machel. Her first job was that of Mozambique's minister of education, which she held from 1975 until 1989. Ever since then, she has been a change agent, serving as the head of the Graça Machel Trust and as a member of The Elders, an international network of leaders collaborating to advance human rights, justice, and peace.
The Graça Machel Trust supports children's rights, decent nutrition, and women's leadership and development. Machel, often lovingly referred to as Mama Graça, believes that influence is far more significant than power. Speaking for me, I do not care [about] becoming powerful, hence I find it difficult to comprehend this power issue. Impact is more important to me, Machel told Forbes. "As a human being and a social being, what is important is [to ask] how do I provoke a positive impact which will make life much better for the people that I work with and for?" she said.
On the centenary of her ex-husband Nelson Mandela, she attended Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in 2018. She also showed her backing by awarding Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg the festival's first-ever Global Citizen Prize for a World Leader.
Chimamanda Adichie, Nigeria
40-year-old Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie became well-known after her books Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun were published to considerable critical praise in 2003 and 2006. Long-listed for one of the most prestigious international literature prizes, the Man Booker, was Purple Hibiscus. A 2013 movie version of Half of a Yellow Sun starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, and John Boyega.
Her 2014 essay, We Should All Be Feminists, though, was what really established her as a well-known intellectual and change agent. We Should All Be Feminists questioned why boys are encouraged to lead and define their identity while girls are taught to aspire to marriage and traditional gender roles and why marriage mattered more than ambition, leadership, and achievement.
Along with appearing in Beyoncé's song "Flawless," We Should All Be Feminists is now given to every 16-year-old student in Sweden. A range of slogan t-shirts by Christian Dior also made reference to the article.
Forbes said of Adichie's life and impact in its most recent issue: "There isn't a celebrated black female intellectual of international stature whose influence transcends written words as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie." “Adichie is a woman who has been able to dissect, shape, and create social dialogues across the globe,” Forbes said.
Chebbi, Aya
Tunisian blogger and campaigner Aya Chebbi is thirty-two. 2010 saw her become well-known as she marched with others in her nation to demand political reform. Similar upheavals throughout the Arab world were prompted by the Tunisian uprisings, a momentous political event now referred to as the Arab Spring.
Her advocacy and capacity to use social media to effect change have led her to establish a number of platforms that encourage intergenerational leadership in Africa. Among these are a multimedia website and youth leadership initiative called Afresist that records youth work in Africa. Chebbi also spearheaded the Youth Programme of Holistic Empowerment Mentoring (Y-PHEM), which trains the upcoming African social activists.
On her website, ayachebbi.com, it says, "Aya's passion for youth empowerment combines with a vision for peace. "[She] has gone to over 65 countries globally working with young people and has single-handedly altered the youth participation space around the world, strengthening the ability of thousands of young people with a holistic focus on empowerment and well-being.” As a member of the youth envoy team at the African Union, Chebbi is also the youngest diplomat there.
Nairobi, Lupita Nyong'o
It was not simply a star being born when Lupita Nyong'o took home the 2014 Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave. It also spurred an appreciation of individuality and self-love movement. Dark with natural hair that she doesn't treat or put a weave over, Nyong'o talked a lot about beauty and, in particular, the need of accepting one's dark complexion.
"We actually need to see Lupita Nyong'o — and faces like hers — as often as possible," writer Dodai Stewart tells The Washington Post. Not sure why. For Nyong'o, a Mexican-born and Kenyan-raised beauty, defies the stereotype of a typical young Hollywood superstar. The woman is black. She sports short hair. Her complexion is dark.
Nyong'o has been advocating inclusive beauty standards the use of her voice and the international platforms she performs on. In her 2014 acceptance speech for the "Best Breakthrough Performance" award at Essence magazine's annual Black Women in Hollywood lunch, Nyong'o related how she received a letter from a young fan who had nearly used skin lightening creams that could have caused cancer before being inspired by her message of self-love.
2019 saw Nyong'o make her writing debut as well with her children's book Sulwe, which tells the story of a 5-year-old Kenyan girl who has the darkest skin in her family. Born out of Nyong'o's early life experiences, the book went on to become a New York Times best-seller.
“Being a powerful woman means that you create your own narrative,” Matheba explains to Forbes. It indicates the strength to defy the existing quo that society has established for women, to be independent, and to make your own choices.
In 2017 Matheba established the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund to support female education by covering the cost of higher institution tuition, stationary, and lodging. She has supported Global Citizen initiatives and spoken before the UN on the need of giving girls' education first priority. Matheba was also a co-host of the historic Mandela 100 Global Citizen Festival, which took place in Johannesburg on December 2, 2018.
Graça Machel, Mozambique and South Africa
One of the most influential and legendary women in Africa is 74-year-old Graça Machel. Her first job was that of Mozambique's minister of education, which she held from 1975 until 1989. Ever since then, she has been a change agent, serving as the head of the Graça Machel Trust and as a member of The Elders, an international network of leaders collaborating to advance human rights, justice, and peace.
The Graça Machel Trust supports children's rights, decent nutrition, and women's leadership and development. Machel, often lovingly referred to as Mama Graça, believes that influence is far more significant than power. Speaking for me, I do not care [about] becoming powerful, hence I find it difficult to comprehend this power issue. Impact is more important to me, Machel told Forbes. "As a human being and a social being, what is important is [to ask] how do I provoke a positive impact which will make life much better for the people that I work with and for?" she said.
On the centenary of her ex-husband Nelson Mandela, she attended Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in 2018. She also showed her backing by awarding Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg the festival's first-ever Global Citizen Prize for a World Leader.
Chimamanda Adichie, Nigeria
40-year-old Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie became well-known after her books Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun were published to considerable critical praise in 2003 and 2006. Long-listed for one of the most prestigious international literature prizes, the Man Booker, was Purple Hibiscus. A 2013 movie version of Half of a Yellow Sun starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, and John Boyega.
Her 2014 essay, We Should All Be Feminists, though, was what really established her as a well-known intellectual and change agent. We Should All Be Feminists questioned why boys are encouraged to lead and define their identity while girls are taught to aspire to marriage and traditional gender roles and why marriage mattered more than ambition, leadership, and achievement.
Along with appearing in Beyoncé's song "Flawless," We Should All Be Feminists is now given to every 16-year-old student in Sweden. A range of slogan t-shirts by Christian Dior also made reference to the article.
Forbes said of Adichie's life and impact in its most recent issue: "There isn't a celebrated black female intellectual of international stature whose influence transcends written words as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie." “Adichie is a woman who has been able to dissect, shape, and create social dialogues across the globe,” Forbes said.
Chebbi, Aya
Tunisian blogger and campaigner Aya Chebbi is thirty-two. 2010 saw her become well-known as she marched with others in her nation to demand political reform. Similar upheavals throughout the Arab world were prompted by the Tunisian uprisings, a momentous political event now referred to as the Arab Spring.
Her advocacy and capacity to use social media to effect change have led her to establish a number of platforms that encourage intergenerational leadership in Africa. Among these are a multimedia website and youth leadership initiative called Afresist that records youth work in Africa. Chebbi also spearheaded the Youth Programme of Holistic Empowerment Mentoring (Y-PHEM), which trains the upcoming African social activists.
On her website, ayachebbi.com, it says, "Aya's passion for youth empowerment combines with a vision for peace. "[She] has gone to over 65 countries globally working with young people and has single-handedly altered the youth participation space around the world, strengthening the ability of thousands of young people with a holistic focus on empowerment and well-being.” As a member of the youth envoy team at the African Union, Chebbi is also the youngest diplomat there.
Nairobi, Lupita Nyong'o
It was not simply a star being born when Lupita Nyong'o took home the 2014 Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave. It also spurred an appreciation of individuality and self-love movement. Dark with natural hair that she doesn't treat or put a weave over, Nyong'o talked a lot about beauty and, in particular, the need of accepting one's dark complexion.
"We actually need to see Lupita Nyong'o — and faces like hers — as often as possible," writer Dodai Stewart tells The Washington Post. Not sure why. For Nyong'o, a Mexican-born and Kenyan-raised beauty, defies the stereotype of a typical young Hollywood superstar. The woman is black. She sports short hair. Her complexion is dark.
Nyong'o has been advocating inclusive beauty standards the use of her voice and the international platforms she performs on. In her 2014 acceptance speech for the "Best Breakthrough Performance" award at Essence magazine's annual Black Women in Hollywood lunch, Nyong'o related how she received a letter from a young fan who had nearly used skin lightening creams that could have caused cancer before being inspired by her message of self-love.
2019 saw Nyong'o make her writing debut as well with her children's book Sulwe, which tells the story of a 5-year-old Kenyan girl who has the darkest skin in her family. Born out of Nyong'o's early life experiences, the book went on to become a New York Times best-seller.
Posts
Comments
Post a Comment