So, as with the usual anticipation, Forbes released the list of the talented Africans who are excelling in technology, business and creativity. This is now the fourth edition of the 30 Under 30 list, and it is all about celebrating young African talent.
This time it brings 30 young Africans in each category - technology, business and creativity. The publication wrote, "The 90 in total are challenging conventions and rewriting the rules for the next generation of entrepreneurs, creatives and tech gurus."
It further added, "We put in months of rigorous research, sifting through over 600 nominations, vetting them for weeks, verifying and investigating them. We favored entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and took into account their business size, revenue, location, potential, struggles, social impact and resilience. A panel of judges then debated the final 90. You may not know many of their names now and they may not be richest people in Africa, but they could be the billionaires of tomorrow gracing our future covers. This compilation is exciting, inspiring and offers a sneak peek into Africa’s future. Meet the class of 2018. The list is in no particular order."
Below are the names of those who made it by category:
Technology
Rivo Mhiari, 23, South Africa - Founder, Rikatec
Olaoluwa Samuel-Biyi, 27, Nigeria - Co-founder, SureGifts. Director, SureRemit
Isaya Yunge, 28, Tanzania - Founder, SomaApps Technologies Company Limited
Mahmood Oyewo, 26, Nigeria - Co-founder, RubiQube
Kevin Lubega, 28, Uganda - Founder, EzeeMoney
Berno Potgieter & Thatoyaona Marumo, 28, South Africa - Founders, Domestly
Leonida Mutuku, 29, Kenya - Founder, Intelipro
Chris Kwekowe, 25, & Emerald Kwekowe, 21, Nigeria - Founders, Slatecube
Phiwa Nkambule, 26, Swaziland - Co-founder, Riovic
Sunkanmi Ola, 22, Nigeria - Founder, Syracuse Digital
Perseus Mlambo, 29, Zambia - Founder, Zazu Africa Limited
Kola Olajide, 26, Nigeria - Co-founder, Bridge Labs
Bamal Namata, 26, Cameroon - Founder, Maibeta
Riaz Moola, 26, South Africa - Founder, HyperionDev
Leonard Stiegeler, 29, Nigeria - Co-founder, Zanda, Jumia & Director Ringer Africa AG.
Kofi Genfi & Nii Osae Osae Dade, 24, Ghana - Founders, CYST Company Limited.
Juan Pienaar, 27, South Africa - Founder, Apex Media.
Timothy Adeleye, 29, Nigeria - Founder, Optiweb Communications.
Maya Horgan Famodu, 27, Nigeria - Founder, Ingressive.
Abraham Omani Quaye, 28, Ghana - Founder, Farmart.
Melvyn Lubega, 28, South Africa - Founder, GO1.
Huston Malande, 28, Kenya - Founder, Skyline Design.
Cukia Kimani, 26 & Ben Myres, 25, South Africa - Founders, Nyamakop.
Ink Eze, 28, Nigeria - Founder, AsoEbiBella.
June Syowia, 23, Kenya - Founder, Beiless Group.
Obinna Okwodu, 27, Nigeria - Founder, Fibre.
Abdellah Mallek, 28, Algeria - Co-founder, Sylabs.
Yasmine El Baggari, 25, Morocco - Founder, Voyaj.
Business
Yannick Nzonde, 29, DRC - Co-founder ATI Groupe
Leroy Mwasaru, 20, Kenya - Founder, Greenpact
Ladipo Lawani, 29, Nigeria - Founder, L&L; Foods
Emmanuel Ademola Ayilara, 29, Nigeria - Founder, LanaWey Investment Limited
Mwiya Musokotwane, 28, Zambia - Founder, Thebe Investment Management
Nomvula Mhambi, 29, Zimbabwe - Founder, Disruptive Innovation
Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Falalu, 28, Nigeria - Founder, FalGates
Roger Boniface, 29, South Africa - Founder, EDISIM
Gilbert Eugene Peters, 29, Zimbabwe - Founder, Spidex Media
Sihle Ndlela, 28, South Africa - Co-founder, Majozi Bros Construction
Vera Shaba, 29, South Africa - Founder, Shaba and Rampling; Green Building Solutions
Thomas Duncan, 28, Namiba - Owner, Anticor
Wesley Beneke, 29, South Africa - Founder, WCB Construction
Anita Adetola Adetoye, 26, Nigeria - Founder, Anita Brows Beauty
Akinwande Durojaye, 28, Nigeria - Founder, JustBrandIt; FixMyRide. Co-founder, FueledUp; LashBells
Samuelle Dimairho, 27, Zimbabwe - Co-founder, Chengetedzai Depository Company
Joey Friedman, 26, South Africa - Founder, LA Group of Companies
Zuko Tisani, 25, South Africa - Founder, Legazy Technology Conferencing
Gisela van Houcke, 27, DRC - Founder, Zuri Luxury Hair&Beauty;
Bidemi Zakariyau, 28, Nigeria - Founder, LSF|PR
Zareef Minty, 24, South Africa - Founder, ZRF Holdings
Fred Apaloo, 28, Ghana - Founder, Villa Grace
Kene Rapu, 28, Nigeria - Founder, Kene Rapu
Jack Mthembu, 27, South Africa - Founder, First One Adventures
Reabetswe Ngwane, 25, South Africa - Co-founder, KreamFields
Anelisa Mntuyedwa, 28, South Africa - Founder, Gilbert Civils
Gozie Coker, 29, Nigeria - Founder, Coker Creative
Alexander Knieps, 27, South Africa - Founder, Printulu
Adam Amoussou, 27, Benin - Founder, Amosconsult Group
Nataliey Bitature, 28, Uganda - Co-founder, Musana Carts
Creatives
Thuso Mbedu, 26, South Africa - Actress.
Maria Borges, 25, Angola - Supermodel
Herieth Paul, 22, Tanzania - Supermodel.
Eddy Kamuanga Illunga, 26, DRC - Painter.
Cassper Nyovest, 27, South Africa - Rapper & Entrepreneur.
Stacey Gillian Abe, 27, Uganda - Multidisciplinary Contemporary Artist.
Yemi Alade, 29, Nigeria - Singer & Songwriter.
Falz, 27, Nigeria - Rapper & Actor.
Orapeleng Moodutle, 29, South Africa - Fashion Designer.
Nomzamo Mbatha, 27, South Africa - Actress.
Kwesta, 29, South Africa - Rapper & Entrepreneur.
Davido, 25, Nigeria - Singer & Songwriter.
Safia Elhillo, 27, Sudan - Author & Poet.
Joyce Jacob, 28, Nigeria - Founder: Joyce Jacob Beauty.
Shekhinah, 23, South Africa - Singer & Songwriter.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal, 28, Nigeria - Fashion Designer. Founder: Orange Culture.
Wizkid, 27, Nigeria - Singer & Songwriter.
Koleka Putuma, 25, South Africa - Poet & Author.
Nasty C, 21, South Africa - Rapper & Producer.
Beverly Naya, 29, Nigeria - Actress & Entrepreneur.
Simphiwe, 27, South Africa - Visual Artist.
Rina Chunga-Kutama, 29, South Africa - Fashion Designer.
Kemiyondo Coutinho, 28, Uganda - Playwright, Actress, Filmmaker & Entrepreneur.
Sarkodie, 29, Ghana - Rapper & Entrepreneur.
Mapeseka Koetie-Nyokong, 29, South Africa - Actress & Entrepreneur.
Sonia Irabor, 28, Nigeria - Writer, Filmmaker & Actress.
Tony Gum, 22, South Africa - Visual Artist.
ANATII, 25, South Africa - Producer, Writer, Director & Artiste.
Sasha Pieterse, 22, South Africa - Actress & Singer/Songwriter.
Tania Omotayo, 26, Nigeria - Model & Entrepreneur
For the full profiles of these people, visit this link on the Forbes website.