Whether you’re stateside or abroad, social media has made our world a lot smaller. Last week’s Social Media Week (SMW) events and conversations, many of which took place on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to name a few platforms, are proof that geographic borders can’t contain the flow of ideas in the digital age.
With the dust slowly settling on SMW Lagos, which made its debut in Africa last Monday, BlackEnterprise.com is highlighting power men in Africa who have made a sizeable social impact. These men were selected for their influence and position in their respective industry, relevance within their field or due to their promising future.
From motivational leaders and businessmen to a rapper or comedian, these 10 power men should be on your Twitter list:
Obi Asika
CEO of Storm 360
Nigeria
Twitter Handle: @obiasika
Followers: 28,895 Followers
Obi Asika is a creative industries entrepreneur with a particular focus on content production and distribution, technology and broadcast media. Widely respected as the CEO of Storm 360, one of Nigeria’s leading entertainment companies, he also serves on the board of companies across industries ranging from infrastructure, oil, gas, power and real estate. He is a founding partner of Dragon Africa Associates, a strategic communications firm based in London, Lagos and Accra. Recognized as one of Nigeria’s visionary risk takers, Obi is the brainchild behind the success of Social Media Week Lagos. Nigeria became the first African country to host this global event.
Fela Durotoye
Development Consultant
Nigeria
Twitter Handle: @feladurotoye
Followers: 27,615
One half of Nigerian power couple Fela and Tara Durotoye, Fela is a leadership development consultant, and arguably Nigeria’s most sought after transformational speaker. He’s widely recognized as one of Nigeria’s most respected voices for change, personal leadership and national transformation. Fela is the CEO of Gemstone Group, which consists of the Gemstone Nation Builders Foundation and Gemstone Development & Management Ltd. aimed at “raising a Generation that is Empowered, Motivated & Stirred To Operate with Natural Excellenceâ€. Fela has consistently used social media to fulfill his life’s mission of building leaders of excellence in Nigeria. In addition to his Twitter followers, he has over 173K fans on Facebook.
Trevor Noah
Entertainer
South Africa
Twitter Handle: @Trevornoah
Followers: 717,584
Trevor Noah is a stand-up megastar in his native South Africa where he exploded onto the entertainment scene just five years ago. Born to a European father and South African mother, Trevor draws on his mixed-race heritage, experiences growing up in the townships of Soweto, and his observations about race and culture as themes in his critically-acclaimed comedy routine. Considered the hottest export coming out of South Africa today, Trevor made his US television debut on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and toured the US with stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesia. Trevor just completed his London debut at the Soho Theater with a sold out four-week run of his acclaimed show The Racist.
Sarkodie
International Hip-Hop Star
Ghana
Twitter Handle: @Sarkodie
Followers: 133,672
Heralded as the fastest rapper in Africa, Sarkodie is affiliated with Akon’s Konvict Musik label, and is now a firm fixture in international music circles. A recording artist, entertainer and brand ambassador, Sarkodie won a BET Award in 2012 for Best International Act, and was awarded with the Ghana Music Award Artist of the Year twice. With a furious flow likened to Busta Rhymes
, and flowing between Twi (his native Ghanian language) and English, he is considered by many as one of the leading pioneers behind the international music genre–and subsequent dance craze–Azonto.Don Jazzy
Award- winning record producer, singer songwriter
Nigeria
Twitter Handle:@DonJazzy
Followers: 463,632
Don Jazzy is an award-winning record producer, singer-songwriter, musician, and former CEO of Nigerian record label Mo’ Hits Records. Following a very public split with childhood friend, and Mo’ Hits co-founder, D’banj, Don Jazzy launched Mavin Records in 2012. After launching the Mavin Records website, Don Jazzy introduced fans to the Mavin League, a social network where fans can interact, and hear the latest news and updates about the label. Mavin Records’ portfolio of artists includes Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Tiwa Savage who has worked with top US acts including Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige and Kelly Clarkson. Don Jazzy was recently listed on the Forbes Most Powerful Celebrity in Africa List.
Tony Elumelu
Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of Heirs Holdings Limited
Nigerian
Twitter Handle: @TonyOElumelu
Followers: 23,390
Tony O. Elumelu is an economist, banker, investor and philanthropist, and one of the most respected business leaders on the continent. Elumelu is chairman of Heirs Holdings, an African proprietary investment firm that focuses on long-term investment in the most promising sectors in Africa. A keen philanthropist, Elumelu is also the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded non-profit organization. The organization’s mission is to identify and groom African business leaders and entrepreneurs to enhance the competitiveness and growth of Africa’s burgeoning private sector. Elumelu is a leading proponent of Africapitalism, an economic philosophy that embodies the African private sector’s commitment to the economic transformation of Africa through long-term investments creating both economic prosperity combined with social wealth.
Will Mutua
Founder of Afrinnovator
Kenya
Twitter Handle: @Afrinnovator
Followers: 13,389
Will Mutua is the founder of Afrinnovator an internationally renowned website providing readers with an invaluable resource on all things surrounding African technology and economic development, including startups and innovation across the continent. Mutua contributes invaluable and in-depth local knowledge and analytical insights into the development of technology in Africa, particularly topics including entrepreneurship and IT growth. He is also the co-author of Innovative Africa: The New Face of Africa, a collection of essays on technology innovation & entrepreneurship in Africa, which was published in 2012.
January Makamba
Deputy Minister of Communication, Science and Technology
Tanzania
Twitter Handle: @JMakamba
Followers: 26,504
In 2009, Tanzania’s president introduced January Makamba to President Barack Obama. Obama was impressed with the young politician’s charisma, commenting that Makamba was the sort of politician needed to aid the transformation of Africa. Â A keen adopter of social media in an environment where politicians do not embrace social networking as robustly as their American counterparts, Makamba is among the most enthusiastic African politician’s on Twitter.
Last year, Makamba launched the Bumbuli Development Corporation and borrowed $10 million from Wall Street philanthropists to be invested in bonds with dividends to spend in his constituency, Bumbuli. With the objective of leveraging the corporation as a driver for development and private enterprise, this young lawmaker is already making a significant impact on Tanzania politics.
Paul Kagame
President of the Republic of Rwanda
Rwanda
Twitter Handle: @PaulKagame
Followers: 108,214
Paul Kagame is one of a few African presidents who are
active on Twitter. Kagame became well known on the international arena as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), whose military victory effectively ended the Rwandan genocide. Popular with many western leaders for several years, under Kagame’s leadership, Rwanda has been called by many business and social analysts Africa’s “biggest success storyâ€. Transforming from a nation ravaged by genocide to a country where peace is the order of the day, roads are well maintained and tourism continues to grow at a rapid rate. Kagame is not without critics who claim his leadership style is authoritarian.Sbusiso Loepe
DJ, Social Entrepreneur and Recording Artist
South Africa
Twitter Handle: @DJSbu
Followers: 189,730
Known to most South Africans as DJ Sbu and voted ‘Sunday Times Coolest Brand of 2012,’ Sbusiso Loepe is a popular entertainer, media personality, philanthropist, and businessman. Championing the development of the poor and disadvantaged, DJ Sbu regularly visits South African high schools in an effort to uplift and encourage disillusioned youth.
Believed by some to be Mzekezeke (a masked Kwaito artist), he is the co-founder of TS Records and has worked on some of the most influential radio stations in the country such as YFM and Metro FM.
DJ Sbu is well known for combining kasi lingo (slang) and English in his shows, instantly allowing the masses to relate to him, which firmly positions him as one of the most popular DJs in South Africa.
Please note that this was the Twitter information as of the publishing date.