The African Heritage Magazine has been publishing a list of Most Influential Africans in Germany since 2006, and what started as only 50 has grown to a list of 100. Unfortunately, only one Kenyan made it to this list this year and at position 71. I have featured some of these personalities on Mkenya and will try and feature the many others included.
Wondering who these influential Africans are? See below the list and a short profile on who they are and what they do.
1. Elombo Bolayela (DRC) – Read his story here: From Asylum Seeker to Politician in Bremen
2. Okwui Enwezor (Nigeria) – Scholar, curator, writer and first African to become a Director of Haus der Kunst in Munich
3. Eng. Ibrahim Samak (Egypt) – Solar scientist, engineer and CEO of Engcotec GmbH. Known for getting the contract to put up Photovoltaic Cells on the German Parliament.
4. Dr. Karamba Diaby (Senegal) – Chemist and Geo-ecologist, SPD candidate for Halle (Saale) parliamentary seat.
5. Chief Muritala Awolola (Nigeria) – Co-Founder of Pan-Afrikanische Kulturverein in Bremen and initiator of African Football Festival Bremen.
6. Katharina Oguntoye (Nigeria) – Author, historian and co-founder and Project Manager JOLIBA – Interkulturelles Netzwerk in Berlin e.V.
7. Angelina Akpovo (Benin) – founder Alafia Festival Hamburg and KAMA Award winner 2005.
8. Prof. Dr. Charles Yanka (Ghana) – Heart Surgeon at German Heart Institute, Berlin and co-founder of PASCATS
9. Prof. Dr. Anyanwu Enyeribe (Nigeria) – Vascular & Thoracic Surgeon.
10. Chief Cassidy Osuji (Nigeria) – CEO CassTel GmbH & Co. KG.
11. Dr. Daniel Kutchin (Nigeria) – Certified Cisco Consultant
12. Chief Kelly Orogun (Nigeria) – CEO Don Kellys GmbH Business Consultant and Horse Breeding & Management.
13. Johnson Adams (Nigeria) – CEO/Managing Director TG Group International GmbH.
14. Yared Dibaba (Ethiopia) – Actor and NDR TV Presenter
15. Otto Addo (Ghana) – Professional footballer
16. Eng Hany Azer (Egypt) – Architect and DB at ProjektBau GmbH. Chief Engineer in the building of the Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
17. Dr. Erick Gankam Tambo (Cameroon) – head of ICT4 Development Research Group at Fern Universität Hagen.
18. Dr. Gizaw Mekbib (Ethiopia) – Doctor specialized in acupuncture and Dermatology.
19. Charles M. Huber (Senegal) – Actor, Author, Politician, founder Afrika Direkt e.V. and CEO Truelines Entertainment GmbH.
20. Dr. Joy Alemazung (Cameroon) – holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Kiel, Germany and works as a freelance consultant on development politics
21. Togbui Ngoryifia Olatidoye (Ghana) – king of the Gbi Traditional area
22. Pastor Prince Ossai Okeke (Nigeria) – resident pastor Christ Ambassadors Ministries Int. Hamburg; Chairman African Christian Council Hamburg e.V. and Advisory Board Member African Consultative Forum Hamburg.
23. Dayan Kodua (Ghana) – Hollywood actress, first black Miss Schleswig-Holstein.
24. Dipl. Ing. Fred Eric Essam (Cameroon) – Account Manager at IBM Deutschland, Founder and Chairman Ident Africa e.V.
25. Nnnna Eme O. Eme (Nigeria) – Co-Founder FASO Initiative e.V.
26. Chuks Lewis Ehiwario (Liberia) – Member of the Auslandsbeirat in Kassel
27. Abayomi O. Bankole (Nigeria) – Insurance broker
28. Asamor Morfaw (Cameroon) – Performing Artist and founder of African Internet Radio.
29. Fredrick Ndubuisi (Nigeria) – CEO Fredanco
30. Chief Nestor Okeke (Nigeria) – CEO Hiness Business Group.
31. A. J. Aban () – CEO Major Development Advisory Project Foundation Business Development & Consultant
32. Dr. Daniel Ubani (Nigeria) – Director Queen IDIA Centre for Diagnosis, Cosmetic/Aesthetic Specialist Medicinal and General Surgery
33. Dr. David Okeke (Nigeria) – System Analysis Business Consultant
34. Dr. Uche Iro (Nigeria) – CEO PhysioCentre Stuttgart
35. Rev. Darlington Jacobs (Ivory Coast) – Author and General Overseer Chapel of Believers Christian Ministry
36. Kenneth Eze (Nigeria) – Founder, AFRICA TOMORROW PLUS e.V. and Manager EUREST Sports & Food GmbH
37. Pastor Bolaji Yinka Emos (Nigeria) – Pastor & General Overseer of Tabernacle of Meeting and CEO of African Automobile Club (EMOSAM)
38. Barister Iyare A. Imasi (Nigeria) – Criminal, Immigration and Public lawyer, radio host and legal adviser NCG
39. Nneka Lucia Egbuna (Nigeria) – performing artists
40. Ivy Quainoo (Ghana) – Winner of Voice of Germany
41. Dr. Victor Njimah (Nigeria) – Manager at Njinmah Postal Network
42. Sylvanus Okeke (Nigeria) – Sports commentator
43. Dipl. Ing. Silkata A. Sahin-Adu (Ghana)– Architect and member of Hamburg Arhcitectenkammer
44. Eng. Sebastian Emeka Udeajah (Nigeria) – Software developer, Chairman NIDO
45. Toni Tuklan Ojis (Nigeria) – Recording Artist and CEO Cleantone Records GmbH
46. Mr. Eze Nosiri (Nigeria) – Founder Owerri Union.
47. Fred Sadadi (Nigeria) – Programmer, president of Nigerian Community Augsburg and referee BFV.
48. Irene Appiah (Ghana) – Lawyer, member of ACF
49. Festus Ogbeiwi (Nigeria) – CEO Ogbeiwi Facility Management
50. Victor Ngwu (Nigeria) – CEO Mediateam IT Education Centre GmbH
51. Mr. Mahamane Diarra (Mali) – Member of ACF
52. Dr. Franklyn Emmanuel Ogbunwezeh (Nigeria) – Head of Africa and Middle East Desk; Works at Human rights Watch Frankfurt am Main
53. Dipl. Ing. Marouane Snoussi (Tunisia) – Director Ms Education Bildung and Integration e.V., member of ACF
54. Branwen Okpako (Nigeria) – film director and editor of The Education of Auma Obama
55. Dr. Bernard Doku () – Retired doctor, member of ACF
56. Dr. Kingsley Ohene Dokyi (Ghana) – Retired doctor
57. Eileen Mary Posch Oduro (Ghana) – Chair and Founder Meshama Foundation, member ACF, Vice President Ghana Union
58. Funke Oshonaike (Nigeria) – Beautician and former Tennis player who represented Nigeria at the Olympics
59. Mr. Clement Klutse (Togo) – Renewable Energy Consultant and member of ACF
60. Daio Dan Sadiku (Nigeria) – Initiator of Social Network Association of Nigerian Students in Germany
61. Toyin Shibu (Nigeria) – Miss Nigeria Germany 2012/2013
62. Ojiodu Ambrose Marcellinus (Nigeria) – Recording artist, brother to Toni Tuklan Ojis (Number 45)
63. Bifof Bruno (Togo) – DJ
64. Eng. Marcel Anyanwu (Nigeria) – CEO Global Shipping Services GmbH.
65. Rt. Revd. Dr. Oheneba R. Agyei Mensah (Ghana) – Pentecostal Charismatic Archbishop of Germany
66. Edward Sunday Adewole (Nigeria) – Ambulante Pflegeassistenz Hamburg
67. Young C. Rhyme aka Money Mendoza (Nigeria) – Radio Hamburg Artist of the month Feb 2010
68. Herve Tcheumeleu () – Editor in Chief and founder Lo’Nam.
69. Veyeh Wirgo Tatah (Cameroon) – Editor in Chief at Africa Positive Magazine; Manager Kilimanjaro Foods
70. Jean-Pierre Tshibanda Muteba (DRC) – Muteba & Associates Translation Bureau.
71. Micky Ojijo (Kenya) – Founder Kenyan Development Association e.V.
72. Deacon Mc Manuel Ehigie (Nigeria) – former President of Edo Community
73. Deaconess Mary Osamwonyi (Nigeria) – President Black Sisters Organization
74. Fatima von Kaehne (Nigeria) – Designer and Initiator African Festival Aschaffenburg
75. Sara Nuru (Ethiopia) – Winner Germany’s Next Top Model 2009
76. Wendy Elsner (South Africa) – Director African Consulting Event Management and Initiator African Festival Frankfurt
77. Nana Kwaku Kurankye (Ghana) – Author and Founder AYACSA
78. Jean Paul Toupka () – Musician and Owner Toupka Import, Export, Entsorgung, Groß und Einzelhandel
79. Prince Ade Gbadebo (Nigeria) – CEO Omoba Import
80. Jean Alexander () – CEO Bei Signed Media Productions GmbH Co.KG
81. Dr. Frank Kwaw Codjoe (Ivory Coast) – Member of ACF
82. Ibrahim Ndiaye (Senegal) – Author and story teller
83. Luisa Natiwi (Uganda) – Author and Co-Founder Zebra Crossing
84. Nisma Cherrat (Morrocco) – Actress and Founder Black Artists in German Film
85. Chief Francis Obidike (Nigeria) – CEO Chimex Group Cars, Trucks & Accessories
86. Chief Basil Anuniru (Nigeria) – CEO Emiban International Spedition
87. Dr. Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana (Senegal) – Educationist
88. Dr. Douglas Samson Idehen (Nigeria) – DIMC Marketing and Project Manager
89. Tumenta F. Kennedy (Cameroon) – Senior Advisor Global Ethics Global Cooperation Council
90. Jude Ogunnaya (Nigeria) – Member ACF
91. David Odinks Peters (Nigeria) – Student Service Dept. Uni Münster
92. Dipl. Ing. Ohene Nana Bonsu Kyeretwie (Ghana) – Founder AYACSA e.V.
93. Adeola Hilbel (Nigeria) – Director Adeola Afro Bistro
94. Uche Umennadi (Nigeria) – Winner Public Prize Award 2000, Ambassador of France 2002 and Dakar Biennale 2007
95. Dipl. Ing. Marie Hanne-Akele (Mali) – Project Manager at Germanischer Lloyd
96. Mouchi Blaise Ahua (Ivory Coast) – Author
97. Dr. Leonard Jamfa (Cameroon) – Political Scientist, Journalist (Africa & Science Magazine) and President African Development Frankfurt
98. Patience Johnson (Nigeria) – Author and CEO Derma Contour Cosmetic
99. Adetoun Küppers-Adebisi (Nigeria) – Founder Afrotak CyberNomads
100. Afra Gyekye (Ghana) – Studied law in Berlin
The list was only impressive up to the 25th Person, after that it seemed they were just looking for people to fill in the spots and get to 100.
I have an issue with this list though, it looks like most of those named are Nigerian (55), live in Hamburg, are members of ACF (12), ambassadors of New Face of Afrika in Hamburg; head a Nigerian Community or are members of the NCG FC Football Club.