Music execs make RPI’s 2023 list of 100 Most Reputable Africans

Ayoade heads Charterhouse Ghana, the company that organises the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs), while British-Ghanaian creative entrepreneur King serves as the CEO of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards. 

Ayoade and King were named alongside other notable Africans including Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zedwe, Kenyan President William Ruto and British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Kobina Enninful.

RPI, a global performance management consulting company, said the annual selection spotlights and celebrates outstanding changemakers across various sectors including entertainment, leadership, advocacy and business. Occupants on the list were picked based on integrity, visibility and impact.

“In addition to the individuals recognised on Reputation Poll International’s 100 Most Reputable Africans list for their various achievements, there are also those who are celebrated for their contributions to social impact and social entrepreneurship, helping to transform businesses in Africa and positively impacting lives without causing controversy,” RPI said. 

Below is the list of the 100 Most Reputable people in Africa in alphabetical order:

1. Abdulrazak Gurnah FRSL – British Author and Professor
2. Afua Kyei – Chief Financial Officer at Bank of England
3. Agnes Matilda Kalibata – President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
4. Aisha Yesufu – Human Rights Advocate
5. Amani Abou-Zeid – Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission
6. Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril – Deputy Executive Director, UNEP
7. Arunma Oteh – Economist and Financial Manager
8. Basita Michael – President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association
9. Bibata Ganemtore Nabaloum – Head of Association for Promotion of Women and Children (APEE)
10. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib – Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences
11. Birama Sidibé – Former Vice President of the Islamic Bank of Development
12. Bolaji Akinremi – Director of Economy Trade & Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
13. Carol Bouwer – CEO, Carol Bouwer Productions
14. Carolyn Steyn – Founder, 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day
15. Chantal Moussokoura Fanny – Senator for Folon District
16. Clare Akamanzi – CEO, Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
17. Conrad Mbewe – Author and Pastor at Kabwata Baptist Church
18. Cosmas Maduka – Founder and Chairman of the Coscharis Group
19. Coumba Sow – Representative at UN Food and Agriculture Organization
20. Dag Heward-Mills – Founder and Bishop of the Lighthouse Chapel International
21. Danai Jekesai Gurira – Actress
22. Dauda Lawal – Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Credent Capital and Advisory Ltd
23. David Olaniyi Oyedepo – Founder and General Overseer at Living Faith Church Worldwide (LFCW)
24. Denis Mukwege – Founder and Head of the Panzi Hospital
25. Edi Mūe Gathegi – Actor
26. Edward Kobina Enninful – Editor-in-Chief, British Vogue
27. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Former President of Liberia
28. Enoch Adeboye – General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
29. Eric Yirenkyi Danquah – Founding Director, the West Africa Centre for crop Improvement (WACCI)
30. Fatoumatta Njai – Representative of ECOWAS
31. Fitsum Assefa Adela – Leader, FDRE Minister of Planning and Development
32. Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jonathan – Former President of Nigeria
33. Helena Ndume – Head of Opthalmology, Windheok Central Hospital
34. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang – Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa
35. Jennifer Douglas – Founder and President, Gede Foundation
36. Jonathan Fonati Koffa – Deputy Speaker Liberia
37. Joaquim Alberto Chissano – Former President of Mozambique
38. Joseph-Achille Mbembe – Author, Philosopher and Lecturer
39. Joyce Msuya – Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN
40. Judy Dlamini – Chancellor of the University of Witwatersand
41. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella – Former Director-General of UNIDO
42. Kanya King – CEO, Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards
43. Ken Kwaku – Honorary Consular of Ghana to Tanzania
44. Kofi Tutu Agyare – Managing Partner at Nubuke Investments
45. Lazarus Chakwera – President of Malawi
46. Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi – 36th Kgosi (king) of the royal Bafokeng Nation
47. Leymah Gbowee – Peace Activist
48. Leïla Slimani – Author and Journalist
49. Lia Tadesse – Minister of Health in Ethiopia
50. Lindiwe Mazibuko – Executive Director of Apolitical Academy
51. Lucy Quist – MD, Morgan Stanley Ghana
52. Lydia Heather Mudhari – Honorary Consul for Zimbabwe in Scotland
53. Marieme Jamme – Philanthropist and Businesswoman
54. Maritza Peña Rosabal – Former Minister of Education in Cape Verde
55. Martha Karau – Leader of the NARC Kenya political party
56. Martha K. Koome – Chief Justice of Kenya
57. Martin Kimani – Kenyan Diplomat
58. Mike Jocktane – Founder, Christ Revealed to Nations & Presidential Candidate, Gabon Nouveau
59. Mogoeng Thomas Reetsang Mogoeng – Former Chief Justice of South Africa
60. Mohamed Moustapha Malick Fall – Regional Director at UNICEF for Eastern and Southern Africa
61. Mohamed Mustafa ElBaradei –Egyptian Lawyer and Diplomat
62. Mohammed ‘Mo’ Ibrahim – Founder and Chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation
63. Monica Geingos – First Lady of Namibia
64. Monique Ilboudo – Author and Human Rights Advocate
65. Mthuli Ncube – Former Finance Minister of Zimbabwe
66. Naguib Onsi Sawiris – CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding
67. Nelson Makamo – Visual Artist
68. N’Gunu Tiny – Founder and CEO, The Emerald Group
69. Nicholas Oppenheimer – Businessman
70. Nj Ajuk – Author, Founder and CEO of Centurion Law Group
71. Njoya Tiku – Manager of the UNDP Regional Office in West and Central Africa
72. Nonkululeko Nyembezi-Heita – CEO of Dutch Mining Group
73. Ogiame Atuwatse III – 21st Olu of Warri
74. Olaniyi Olatunji Nelson – International Development Professional
75. Patrick Ngugi Njoroge – Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya
76. Paul Enenche (Dr., Pastor) – Senior Pastor, the Dunamis International Gospel Centre
77. Phuthi Mahanyelle – CEO of Naspers
78. Ronald Ozzy Lamola – Minister of Justice and Correctional Services in South Africa
79. Rosalia Martins-Hausiku – CEO Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund of Namibia
80. Sadia Haji Samatar – Lead of the Parliament in Somalia
81. Sahle-Work Zewde – President of Ethiopia
82. Samuel Esson Jonah – Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast in Ghana
83. Sheila Dinotshe Tlou – Nurse and Nursing Educator
84. Soha Ali – Senior Counrty Representative of JP Morgan Chase Bank for the Egypt Office
85. Tembeka Nicholas Ngcukaitobi – Author, Lawyer and Political Activist
86. Thebe Ikalafeng – Founder and CEO of Brand Leadership Group
87. Theresa Ayaode – Executive Director of Multiple Concepts Groups
88. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande – The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations
89. Tuma Adama Gento- Kamara – Chairperson of the National Revenue Authority (NRA)
90. Victoire Sidémého Dzidudu Dogbé Tomegah – Prime Minister of Togo
91. Victor Ochen – Founder and Executive Director of African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET)
92. Wally Adeyemo – Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury
93. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg – Executive Director at Rise, a project by Schmidt
94. WF Kumuyi – General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM)
95. Wided Bouchamaoui – Leader of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts
96. Wilfried Mbappé – Football Coach and Agent
97. William Ruto – President of Kenya
98. Winnie Byanyima – Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of UNAIDS
99. Workneh Gebeyehu Negewo – Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ethiopia
100. Zeinab Badawi – British Journalist and Television Presenter