Zen Magazine released their list of the top 10 African women of 2013. Lots of accomplished, gorgeous ladies made the list. View the top 5 after the click.
The ladies who held Zen’s 10 through 6 spots include:
10. Bonang Matheba (South Africa)
9. Hanaa Ben Abdesslem (Tunisia)
8. Lira (South Africa)
7. Yvonne Nelson (Ghana)
6. Linda Ikeji (Nigeria)
Zen’s Top 5 African Women for 2013 (+snippets from their profiles) are:
5. Bisila Bokoko (South Africa)
For nearly 7 years, Bisila ran the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce in New York as it’s Executive Director and her duty as the Executive Director to the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce was to foster trade deals and to create pathways for businesses looking to enter new international markets. In her current role as founder and chairperson of The Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project (BBALP), an NGO whose mission is to promote literacy among the African people by building libraries in rural communities across Africa, she is determined to make sure the next generation of African kids get a chance at having the basic education foundation and, giving them a golden opportunity at fulfilling their dreams.
4. Liya Kebede (Ethiopia)
Born on the 1st of March in 1978, Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian supermodel, an accomplished actress, a fashion designer and a maternal health advocate whose name in the modelling industry is legendary. Liya has worked with the best in the business and has featured in ad campaigns including those for Shiatzy Chen, Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent, Victoria’s Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger, Revlon, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada and Louis Vuitton to name a few. Now in her 30′s, Liya is more focused on her philanthropic work through her NGO, the Liya Kebede Foundation. The LKF partners with the Ethiopian Government and the Ethiopian North American Health Professionals Association (ENAHPA) to equip the Maternal Child Health Center (MCH) in Hawassa and, train its growing clinical team in comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care.
3. Lupita Nyong’o (Kenya)
Lupita Nyong’o fan base exploded massively this year after she portrayed Patsey in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years A Slave movie alongside Chiwetel Ejofor. Since the movie hit the cinemas, Lupita has been nominated for several awards including a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress and she recently received double nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role and for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Lupita was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1983 to a Kenyan family and was raised primarily in Kenya. On the red carpet, Lupita is a rising fashion star, and in our books, one to watch in 2014.
2. MacDella Cooper (Liberia)
In December 2010, the MacDella Cooper Foundation opened the first school in Liberia to offer free tuition, including room and board, to 55 students. 3 years after the opening, the MCF is growing stronger by the minute and the NGO is getting huge reviews worldwide for all the humanitarian work they are doing. Founder and CEO of the MacDella Cooper Foundation, MacDella Cooper, is a philanthropist, activist, humanitarian, fashionista and proud Liberian who has been making strides for justice via her foundation. Her NGO is dedicated to providing the youth in Liberia, especially orphans and abandoned children, an education and the basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter.
1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
No countdown would be complete without the poetic Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and 2013 was definitely an incredible year for the award-winning writer and inspirational speaker. Officially the only female African writer to have worked with the talented Beyoncé Knowles this 2013, Chimamanda has in different turns, evolved to become a heroine for women across Africa and the world. After the successes of her debut novel ‘Purple Hibiscus’, her Biafran civil war novel ‘Half of a yellow Sun’ which has been adapted into a movie and her collection of poignant short stories ‘This thing around your neck’, Ms Adichie returned in fiery form in 2013 with her gripping story of life as a NigerianAmerican immigrant ‘Americanah’. This has truly been the year for the firmly outspoken author and role model.
To see the full list and profiles, click here.
Loved the piece; amazing to see women not only excel in their professions, but use their professions as a platform for more.
What do you think of the list? Share your comments in the comments section below.
