African leaders were willing to put everything on the line to face the unknown and activate change in Africa. Explore this list of the greatest African leaders who are well known to this day and who helped shape the history of the land many call home. These men and women were pioneers in their own way.
Who are the greatest leaders of all time? Here is the list of the top 15 African greatest leaders in no particular order. All of these people created a powerful impact on the whole world.
15. Léopold Sédar Senghor
Portrait of Leopold Senghor in Senegal. Photo: Laurent Maous Source: Getty
Date of birth: 9 October 1906
Age: 95 years (at the time of his death)
Died: 20 December 2001
Nationality: Senegalese
Léopold Sédar Senghor was a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist who played a significant role in the fight against colonialism and the struggle for independence in Africa. He was the first president of Senegal, serving from 1960 to 1980. Senghor was also a prominent figure in the Negritude movement, which emerged in the 1930s as a literary and intellectual movement that celebrated the black experience and sought to reclaim the cultural heritage of Africa.
14. Thabo Mbeki
Full name: Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
Date of birth: 18 June 1942
Age: 80 years (as of 2023)
Nationality: South African
Thabo Mbeki is a South African politician who served as the country’s president from 1999 to 2008. Mbeki played a significant role in the anti-apartheid movement and was a key figure in the negotiations that led to the end of apartheid and democracy in South Africa. Read also Veteran journalist Jeremy Gordin killed in home invasion, SA alarmed: “Robbery was a cover-up” As president, Mbeki was known for his focus on economic growth and development and his efforts to promote African unity and international cooperation.
13. Wangari Maathai
The Nobel Peace Price 2004 Wangari Maathai during the conference on biodiversity at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization headquarters in Paris, France.
Photo: Laurent Zabulon Source: Getty Images
Full name: Wangari Muta Maathai
Date of birth: 1 April 1940
Age: 71 years (at the time of her death)
Died: 25 September 2011
Nationality: Kenyan
Wangari Muta Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for contributing to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.
Maathai advocated for environmental conservation and sustainable development in Kenya and worldwide. She founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, focusing on planting trees and empowering women to participate in environmental conservation efforts.
12. Robert Mugabe
Robert G. Mugabe addresses the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2004, in New York City.
Photo: Spencer Platt Source: Getty Images
Full name: Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Date of birth: 21 February 1924
Age: 95 years (at the time of his death)
Died: 6 September 2019
Nationality: Zimbabwean
Robert Mugabe was a Zimbabwean politician who served as the country’s Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and as its President from 1987 until he was forced to resign in November 2017. Both achievements and controversies marked Mugabe’s rule. On the one hand, his government introduced policies that expanded access to education and healthcare and redistributed land from white farmers to black Zimbabweans.
11. Dedan Kimathi
Dedan Kimathi Waciuri, shown at his trial in the Nyeri forest, led an armed military struggle known as the Mau Mau uprising against the British colonial government in Kenya.
Photo: Authenticated News Source: Getty Images
Full name: Dedan Kimathi Waciuri
Date of birth: 31 October 1920
Age: 36 years (at the time of his death)
Died: 18 February 1957
Nationality: Kenyan
Dedan Kimathi was a Kenyan freedom fighter and a leader in the Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule in Kenya. He is remembered as a hero and a symbol of Kenya’s struggle for independence and self-determination. His legacy has inspired many in the country and across the African continent to continue fighting for their rights and freedoms.
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