Most Influential Africans of 2014
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MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICANS OF 2014 NA1412.indb 8 16/11/2014 16:33 Africa is on the move. Its voices are getting louder and prouder. Africa is known for being the world’s youngest continent, but every year, it makes the case a little more strongly for also being its most vibrant, most innovative and most exciting. Its never-say-die athletes are beating the best and smashing world records. Its writers and poets are wowing the world with their beauty of prose and strength of soul. Its actors and directors are pushing new boundaries and conquering hearts. Its intrepid journalists are refusing to cower in the face of power and are shouting about the stories that need shouting about. Furthermore, in every corner of the continent, wherever there is in- justice, oppression or tyranny, Africans of every stripe – from young to old, male to female, brave to even braver – are fighting and working for a better tomorrow. Africa is on the move. Given this transformation, happening at every level in every country, it may seem foolhardy to pick out just a hundred or so individuals of note as the continent’s most influential people. But in every march and movement, there are always a few figures who lead the line and who stick their heads above the parapets before anyone else – these can be trendsetters, visionaries, heroes, and at times even rabble-rousers whose actions or lack thereof, make or break the continent. Wielding influence comes in diverse forms and this collection portrays just that. In what follows, therefore, we managed – painstakingly and with huge difficulty – to pick out those particularly significant figures for the year just concluding. Thankfully, many of them are heroes whose actions have pushed Africa forwards in exciting and positive ways. But it should be pointed out that these pages will also include some figures whose actions continue to hold the continent back. They are presented to you, the good alongside the bad, in no particular order. Some may be part of an old guard that just never tires. Some may be children of the future with footprints deeper and weightier than their years. And some you may never have even heard of as they’ve been inno- vating, creating and debating behind the scenes. But without exception, and in their own way, the people we have chosen – our most influential Africans of 2014 – have left the world a little different this year. Compiled and edited by: reGina Jane Jere, James Schneider, James Wan, Jon Hayward and Wanjiru Kariuki. NA_MIA_INTRO_1214.indd 9 16/11/2014 16:49 Most Influential Africans Politics and Public Office GAMBIA Fatou Bensouda The frustrated prosecutor It has been a difficult year for the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC. Not only has her institution been labelled anti-African, but her flagship case – against Uhuru Kenyatta – will not come to trial in the near future. The ICC remains a powerful force on the continent and Bensouda’s influence shouldn’t be underestimated, but it will be an uphill struggle to improve African perceptions of the court’s legitimacy. KENYA Uhuru Kenyatta The scourge of the ICC The son of Kenya’s first and non-cooperation by the court has been the making of president has had a Kenyan government, it is really Uhuru. He now seems a savvy “I remain remarkable year. He started it Kenyatta’s shrewd politics that and dominant figure in African under threat of trial for alleged have undermined the court. He politics, a million miles from grateful for crimes against humanity at rallied allied African leaders the unsure and unsuccessful Africa’s support. the International Criminal to unite many African Union presidential candidate in Court (ICC) in The Hague. members in opposition to the 2002 or the young man who Our century of He ends it all but guaranteed ICC. He reframed his case as failed to win his father’s struggle against not to face trial while in office being about the dignity and former constituency nearly 20 domination and and with the real possibility sovereignty of Kenya and more years ago. His country faces that his case will be thrown broadly Africa, rather than many challenges but is full of exploitation out altogether. While the about the political violence opportunity. How will he continues.” - Office of the Prosecutor following the disputed 2007 use his newfound stature in Uhuru Kenyatta alleges witness tampering election. The struggle with the 2015? 10 New African December 2014 NA_MIA_Politics_1214 Publisher Proof Reader NA1412.indb 10 16/11/2014 16:33 Creation date 10/01/14 Editor Production Manager Modification date November 16, 2014 10:56 AM Art Director Advertising Manager Output date 11/16/14 Subeditor Picture Editor SOUTH AFRICA CYRIL RAMAPHOSA The troubleshooter Cyril Ramaphosa has consolidated his position as the front-runner to succeed his embattled boss, Jacob Zuma. Although he only returned to politics last year, after nearly two highly successful decades in business, he has become the ANC government’s chief troubleshooter. He acts as a negotiator in South Sudan’s civil war, played a similar and successful role SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH SUDAN in Lesotho’s political crisis, attempted unsuccessfully Thabo Mbeki Salva Kiir and Riek Machar to calm tensions in Cosatu Continental Rival politicians tearing their (the ANC-aligned trade union federation), is the chair of statesman and country apart the crucial National Planning negotiator Commission, and the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly. The It’s been six years since Thabo President Salva Kiir and his former Vice Mbeki stepped down as South contradictions he represents President Riek Machar have had great Africa’s president, but his have been brought to the retirement has been far from influence in their country this year - but fore this year, especially uneventful. The champion of an during his appearance before African Renaissance continues not of the positive kind. Their rivalry has the Farlam Commission of to play a leading role in events Inquiry into the Marikana and issues across the continent, done much to smash the hope invested in mine massacre. In 2015, including as a crucial negotiator he will have to balance the between the long-standing their new state at independence in 2011. tensions of being a former antagonists of Sudan and South leader of the National Sudan. This already challenging Their political dispute has developed into Union of Mineworkers and task has been made all the more having been a mining sector difficult by the ongoing civil war an ethnicised conflict, mainly between and political instability in the South shareholder, including at this year, but Mbeki will be hoping the Dinka and the Nuer. 1.5 million the Lonmin-owned Marikana that his unique experience of mine. If he can, he could very mediating in seemingly intractable South Sudanese are internally displaced well emerge as the ANC’s conflicts in the past will serve him and thousands have been killed. As leader. well once again. their representatives engage in on-off “Even in the context negotiations in regional capitals, the pair’s of the widely inability to put their country’s interests prevalent and ahead of their own is not only causing correct African and damage today, but makes the task of global view that Africa is rising, building a sustainable state and society all our historic for the future more difficult. The two men and long-term hold enough power to end the conflict. If challenges remain.”- only they would choose to exert it. Thabo Mbeki December 2014 New African 1 1 NA_MIA_Politics_1214 Publisher Proof Reader NA1412.indb 11 16/11/2014 16:33 Creation date 10/01/14 Editor Production Manager Modification date November 16, 2014 10:56 AM Art Director Advertising Manager Output date 11/16/14 Subeditor Picture Editor Most Influential Africans Politics and Public Office SOUTH AFRICA Julius Malema The economic freedom fighter Julius Malema has completed procedure by shouting down the transition from being ready President Zuma with calls to to “die for Zuma” to being his “pay back the money” for his most vociferous critic. If his Nkandla homestead (see Thuli opponents thought that Malema’s Madonsela entry below). This expulsion from the ANC and legal brand of populist politics divides difficulties with the taxman would opinion nationally but attracts finish him off, 2014 will have big crowds wherever Malema disappointed them. Malema’s goes. Despite his personal legal new political party, the Economic troubles, he may have spawned Freedom Fighters (EFF) won a an organisation that, perhaps respectable 25 seats in this year’s along with the National Union of general election and has since Metalworkers of South Africa, caused waves in parliament. The which was expelled from Cosatu EFF has highlighted how removed in November (see pages 58-9), the political debate is from much can provide serious opposition of the population by wearing to the ANC from the left, as the bright red workers’ clothes and Democratic Alliance does from by breaking with parliamentary the liberal right. SOUTH AFRICA Thuli Madonsela The Public Protector South Africa’s constitution reading for the government, created the so-called chapter nine leading to calls from across institutions to guard democracy, the spectrum (but most loudly which sit outside of government. from Malema’s EFF) for Zuma One of these, the Public Protector, to personally repay the state. is headed by Thuli Madonsela, who Unsurprisingly, she has found has used her office to investigate herself under attack from Zuma’s the Nkandlagate scandal, in which allies, but she has not flinched. Her $20 million of public money was robust defence of the institution, spent upgrading Jacob Zuma’s both in principle and in practice, personal home in Nkandla, has ensured its independence, KwaZulu-Natal.