Following their usual tradition annually, Forbes Africa has unveiled its 30 Under 30 list, which is a collection that lauds the accomplishments of exceptional young entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders under the age of 30.
The list, titled “The Newest Self-Made Young Innovators and Leaders Scripting a New Vision for Africa,” showcases 30 dynamic and versatile individuals who are spearheading Africa’s progress in their own unique ways.
Among the notable individuals featured are Tems, Ayra Starr, Asisat Oshoala, Blessing Joel Abeng, and Khloe ‘Koko’ Abiri. The finalists were selected from a pool of over one thousand applicants, which included former Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 alumni.
The editorial team, led by Under 30 curator Chanel Retief, worked in tandem with a panel of independent external judges and subject-matter experts to conduct a rigorous selection process that factored in innovation, scalability, social impact, and overall contribution to Africa’s development.
“In a post-pandemic Africa, everything is evolving all over again; everything is a work in progress,” says Renuka Methil, Managing Editor of Forbes Africa.
“That was evident in the pool of talent we received… because here is a young batch of people completely cognizant of the changes the continent is going through and who are coming up with ideas and solutions for some of these very new problems.
“There are also problems that have been around for a long, and they are now trying to tackle them quickly. I think the speed with which they are trying to execute some of these ideas is what we need to highlight.
“They are also building their own brand and changing the image of the continent.”