Business titans and AI pioneers dominate New African’s 2025 “100 Most Influential Africans” list

From boardrooms to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, New African’s 2025 100 Most Influential Africans list highlights a continent increasingly shaped by business leadership, technological ambition and creative resilience.

New African magazine has unveiled the 2025 edition of its annual 100 Most Influential Africans list, revealing a notable shift in influence across the continent. For the first time in several years, the Business and Finance category has overtaken the Creative sector, underscoring the growing role of Africa’s business leaders in shaping the continent’s trajectory.

Published annually, the list recognises Africans from across a wide range of fields whose work has had a measurable impact on the continent and beyond over the past year. It reflects not only achievement, but also leadership, originality and influence in a rapidly changing global landscape.

“From the feedback we receive, this list has become more than a ranking. For many, it is life-changing recognition,” says Anver Versi, Editor of New African. “This year, we are seeing a clear trend of Africans articulating their own philosophical undercurrents at a time of global uncertainty. Whether in artificial intelligence ethics or in the arts, these individuals are reclaiming the African narrative.”

The Business and Finance category is particularly prominent in this year’s edition, reflecting a maturing economic landscape across the continent. The section features both resilient veterans and influential new entrants. Among those recognised are George Elombi, the newly appointed President of Afreximbank, and Hazem Ben-Gacem, the Tunisian investor celebrated for his ability to scale global ventures.

Technology also features strongly, with artificial intelligence emerging as a defining theme of the 2025 list. Many of the individuals highlighted are actively involved in developing African-specific AI solutions designed to address the continent’s unique challenges. Their work emphasises ownership and sovereignty, positioning Africa as a creator rather than a passive consumer in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Creatives category remains a major pillar of the list, recording the second-highest number of entries. One of the most striking inclusions this year is Nnene Kalu, the Nigerian-British sculptor who won the 2025 Turner Prize. Kalu made history as the first person with severe learning difficulties to receive the award, inspiring countless individuals with disabilities to explore their creative potential.

Politics also delivers a surprise. Zohran Mamdani, of Ugandan heritage, makes the list following his recent election as Mayor of New York. With deep family ties to Africa, he is widely viewed as a potential ally for African interests in the United States.

In total, the 2025 list represents 32 African nations and features 64 men and 36 women. Business leads the category breakdown with 21 entries, followed by Creatives with 19, Public Office and Thinkers and Opinion Shapers with 15 each, Sports with 13, Change Makers with nine and Technology with eight. Nigeria remains the most represented country with 21 entries, followed by South Africa with 10, Kenya and Ghana with seven each, and Tunisia with five.

The full list is available at 100.newafricanmagazine.com.