Achebe, Soyinka Make Top 10 on Forbes List of 40 Most Influential Celebrities in Africa

Forbes debut list of 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa captures different professionals like actors, authors, musicians, movie producers, artiste, TV and sports personalities, etc. Below are those who made it to the top ten:

Chinua Achebe, 80, Novelist (Nigeria)

Youssou N'dour, 51, Musician (Senegal)

Didier Drogba, 33, Footballer (Cote D'Voire)

Angelique Kidjoe, 51, Musician (Benin Republic)

Akon, 38, Musician (Senegal)

Wole Soyinka, 77, Playwright (Nigeria)

Salif Keita, 62, Musician (Mali)

Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 46, (South African)

Oumou Sang, 43, Musician (Mali)

Femi Kuti, 49, Musician (Nigerian) 

A total of 11 Nigerians actually made it to the complete list of 40. Other Nigerians on the list are...

Nollywood actress - Genevieve Nnaji (19), Writer - Chimamanda Adichie (32), Music producer - Don Jazzy (36) and Musicians - Tuface Idibia (34), Psquare (35), D’banj (37), Nneka (38) and Asa (39).

HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST...
1. Chinua Achebe, 80, Novelist (Nigeria)
2. Youssou N’dour, 51, Musician (Senegal)
3. Didier Drogba, 33, Footballer (Cote D’Voire)
4. Angelique Kidjoe, 51, Musician (Benin Republic)
5. Akon, 38, Musician (Senegal)
6. Wole Soyinka, 77, Playwright (Nigeria)
7. Salif Keita, 62, Musician (Mali)
8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 46, (South African)
9. Oumou Sang, 43, Musician (Mali)
10. Femi Kuti, 49, Musician (Nigerian)
11. Toumani Diabaté, Musician (Mali)
12. Oliver Mtukudzi, 59, Musician (Zimbabwe)
13. Haile Gebrselassie, 38, Athlete (Ethiopia)
14. Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, 51, Musician (Algeria)
15. Samuel Eto’o, 30, Soccer Player (Cameroun)
16. Alek Wek, 34, Supermodel (Sudan)
17. Liya Kebede, 33, Supermodel (Ethopia)
18. Dobet Gnahoré, 29, Musician (Ivory Coast)
19. Genevieve Nnaji, 32, Actress (Nigeria)
20. Koffi Olomidé, 55, Musician (Congo)
21. Neill Blomkamp, 32, Movie Director (South Africa)
22. Souad Massi, 39, Musician (Algeria)
23. Baaba Maal, 58, Musician (Senegalese)
24. Hugh Masekela, 72, Musician (South Africa)
25. K’Naan, 33, Rapper (Somalia)
26. Amadou and Mariam, Musicians (Mali)
27. Awilo Longomba, Musician (Congo)
28. Eric Wainaina, 38, Musician (Kenya)
29. Binyavanga Wainaina, 40, Author (Kenya)
30. Ngugi Wa Thiongo, 73, Author (Kenya)
31. Freshlyground, Musicians (South Africa)
32. Chimamanda Adichie, 34, Writer (Nigeria)
33. Rokia Traoré, 37, Musician (Mali)
34. Tuface Idibia, 36, Musician (Nigeria)
35. P-Square, 29, Musicians (Nigeria)
36. Don Jazzy, 30, Music Producer (Nigeria)
37. D’Banj, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
38. Nneka, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
39. Asa, 29, Musician (Nigeria)
40. Patricia Amira, 33, TV Personality (Kenya)