PHOTOS

: There are women of color around the world, from the East to the West and beyond, making huge strides to powerfully impact their industries and communities, and leave a legacy for generations to come. Forbes has highlighted an extensive list of these women, all leaving unbelievably phenomenal marks on Africa to ensure that the continent — and ultimately, the world — is a better place to live and grow. These 20 women—all under 45— wield influence in African business, technology, policy and media. They are authors of change, trendsetters, visionaries, and young global leaders.

: Ory Okolloh Kenyan, Founder, Ushahidi: Harvard-trained, this lawyer, activist and blogger, spearheaded the founding of Ushahidi, a revolutionary crowd sourcing utility that allows citizen journalists and eyewitnesses all over the world to report incidences of violence through the Web, mobile E-mail, SMS, and Twitter. The Kenya native recently became Google’s policy manager for Africa, and she is widely known as one of the most influential women in global technology.

: Dambisa Moyo, Economist: Zambian-born, Moyo is a New York Times international best-selling author of Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working, and one of Africa’s most vocal opponents of foreign aid. She's a board member at Barclays Bank, SABMiller and Lundin Petroleum.

: Chimamanda Adichie, Author: This award-winning Nigerian writer of Half of a Yellow Sun has been lauded for carrying on the legacy of African literary icons including Chinua Achebe, Camara Laye and Cyprian Ekwensi. Her books have won the coveted Orange Prize.

: Stella Kilonzo, CEO, Capital Markets Authority: Since 2008 Kilonzo, a trained accountant and administrator, has served as the Chief Executive of Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2011/08/18/the-20-youngest-power-women-in-africa/" target="_blank">Read more at Forbes …</a>