30 Most Notable Africans of 2014: Part 2

16 Feb 2015

7. NoViolet Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

NoViolet Bulawayo first came on the international literary scene in 2011 when she won the Caine Prize (one of Africa’s greatest literary prizes) in recognition of her powerful short story, Hitting Budapest. Born Elizabeth Tshele in Zimbabwe, she took on her pen name of NoViolet (meaning with Violet) Bulawayo (her native city in Zimbabwe) in honor of her mother, who died when she was only 18 months old, and her beloved home. The 2013 debut of her brilliant novel, We Need New Names, shone an even brighter light on this literary master as it was nominated for the Man Booker Prize—amongst other major recognitions.

The story portrays a young girl, Darling, who is forced to move to the United States to be raised by her aunt when war and corruption cause strife and major hardship in her home country of Zimbabwe. NoViolet herself emigrated to the U.S. at 18  for the same reason and is now a professor at Stanford University in California. Interestingly enough, although her debut novel was written for an adult audience, it seems to have attracted some young fans. On her Facebook page, Bulawayo writes:

“i didn't necessarily have young readers in mind when i wrote Names, and i definitely did not see it being teached, but i'm especially loving seeing high school and early college kids read the book and give it love, and that both boys and girls connect to Darling. also always moved to hear international students come in with their insights, and sometimes personal narratives, seemingly inspired by seeing their story of leaving and arriving and dealing with a new space—there is no better thanks i can ask for.”

Yes, our youth need to hear our voices, and this up and coming author is portraying them beautifully.

Follow NoViolet on Facebook. Photo from the author’s web site.

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8. Abdirashid Duale, Somalia

From the time his family had to flee Somalia in 1990 due to the civil war, up to now as the country continues to rebuild, Duale has been committed to countering the Western image of Somalia as a war-torn wasteland through his position as the CEO of Dahabshiil. The company, based in Dubai, is the most successful money transfer company operating in the Horn of Africa. This savvy entrepreneur knows that Somalia’s challenging past hasn’t stopped its resourceful citizens from rebuilding a thriving economy. As the owner of the largest money transfer company on the continent, Duale has seen the shift in priorities for the monies the Diaspora sends back to the continent shift from support for basic needs for those who displaced relatives, to investment as more natives move back home. (Remittances Somalians send home are to the tune of $1.2 billion+ per year.)

What has made the company so successful is its focus on helping users in rural and remote areas gain access to their money using an extensive network of partners and advanced technology. With all of its success, Duale ensures that the company continues to re-invest in the countries and communities where it does business by building hospitals, bridges, classrooms, libraries and university buildings. A frequent speaker on business and policy issues in Africa, Duale’s bright vision for the future of his continent and belief in the resiliency and resourcefulness of his fellow countrymen are at the heart of how and why he does business—and does it very successfully.

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9. Lorna Rutto, Kenya

Lorna Rutto is a passionate environmentalist turned innovator. Her commitment for finding a solution to the tons of plastic littering her homeland of Kenya inspired her to found EcoPost Unlimited—a fast-growing company that manufactures durable fencing posts using plastic waste, an environmentally-friendly alternative to timber. Kenya generates more than 10,000 tons of garbage everyday, while less than 2% of the country’s land mass is covered by forests (down from 10% at independence in 1963). At the same time, some 500,000 youth remain unemployed with few prospects. Since leaving her banking job and starting her company in 2010, Rutto has brought on 15 full-time employees, recycled more than 600 metric tons of waste, saved hundreds of trees, and employs hundreds of part-time, vulnerable individuals.

Among a few of the awards Rutto has won for EcoPost include the World Wildlife Fund’s Nature Award and the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award, an international business plan competition created to identify, support and encourage projects by women entrepreneurs. Rutto believes that opportunities are everywhere, as as long as you have passion and the will for what you do, there is money to be made. This is one entrepreneur who is following in the footsteps of her fellow countrywoman and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Wangari Maathai who believed that:

“We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all.”

Follow Lorna on Twitter. Photo from Twitter.

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10. Tebogo Ditshego, South Africa

Tebogo Ditshego is the mastermind behind Diteshego Media based in South Africa. In just four years, this sharp entrepreneur has made a name for himself as an up and coming media mogul. His public relations firm has landed major clients such as Vodacom and Avon, and recently opened an office in Kenya. He’s fast-becoming a regular on the speaking circuit: in November 2014, he was a featured speaker at the Fifth Annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Morocco alongside U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance, Mohamed Boussaid, and other notable figures.

At 29, Ditshego is making his impact felt beyond just his own country.  In addition to being listed on Forbes list of 30 African Entrepreneurs Under 30 in 2014, he’s also an avid reader whose love of literature led him to found what has now become the largest online book club in Africa. Established in 2013, ReadABookSA is focused on creating a social movement to get South Africans back into a culture of reading. In fact, because of his role in making it cool to be intelligent and coining the term #IntellectualSwag, The Sowetan listed Tebogo Ditshego as one of the top 12 sexiest men in South Africa for 2014. Keep your eye on this global mover and shaker—he’s only just begun.

Follow Tebogo on Twitter. Photo from Twitter.

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I hope you enjoyed this second installment of 2014's 30 Most Notable Africans. One theme that was consistent throughout each of these stories was that of finding a sustainable solution to a pressing problem. That's what the most impactful people do. May you be inspired to do the same! Stay tuned for our third and final installment of this series coming next week.

What inspires you most about this year's list of Notable Africans?

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