First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, former Foreign Affairs Minister Hanna Tetteh and the CEO of Salt and Light Ministries Dr. Joyce Aryee have been listed amongst Avance Media’s 2019 100 Most Influential African Women.

The list as released by the leading African rating and PR firm features distinguished women whose works and accomplishments continue to inspire the next generation of women in Africa.

Speaking about the list, MD of Avance Media Prince Akpah noted that the list has a representation of 100 women from 35 African countries that are changing the feminine narrative and challenging the status quo of women on the continent.

He also said some of the honourees have expressed interest in offering mentorship opportunities to young women from across the continent through the ‘Be a Girl’ mentorship programme, which is being launched to upsurge the impact of the publication.

Avance Media has over the years been engaged in changing the narrative about Africa through rating and ranking publications and the launch of this initiative is expected not only to celebrate Africans but showcase the individual and collective works of women who are earnestly inspiring the next generation of leaders in Africa.

The list features women who occupy eminent leadership positions such as President, Prime Minister, Secretary General, First Lady, Governor, Minister, CEO and Commissioners.

Notable among them are Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde, Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Taylor and Ghana’s First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

The rest are Namibia’s Prime Minister Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed and former presidents, Ellen Sirleaf Johnson and Catherine Samba-Panza.

The list also features young women activists such as AU Youth Envoy Aya Chebbi, Farida Bemba Nabourema and Ilwad Elman.

Entertainers including Lupita Nyong’o, Omotola Jalade Ekiende, Genevieve Nnaji, Tiwa Savage also made the list.

Below is the list of Avance Media’s 2019 100 Most Influential African Women arranged in alphabetical order.


  1. AbiolaBawuah || United Bank for Africa (UBA)

  2. AïdaDiarra || Visa, SSA

  3. Amani Abou-Zeid(H.EDr.) || African Union Commission

  4. Amina C. Mohammed (Amb. Dr) || Kenyan Cabinet Minister

  5. Amina J. Mohammed (H.E) || United Nations

  6. Amira Elfadil Mohammed Elfadil(H.E) || African Union Commission

  7. Angela Kyeremanten-Jimoh || IBM

  8. AngéliqueKidjo || Musician

  9. ArunmaOteh || University of Oxford

  10. AyaChebbi || African Union Commission

  11. Bethlehem TilahunAlemu || soleRebels

  12. BinetaDiop(H.E) || African Union Commission

  13. BintaToureNdoye || The Orabank Group

  14. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo || Batswana Cabinet Minister

  15. BonangMatheba || Media Personality

  16. Carole Wainaina || Africa 50

  17. Caroline Abel || Central Bank of Seychelles

  18. Caster Semenya || Athlete

  19. Catherine Samba-Panza(H.E) || Former President, Central African Republic

  20. CessoumaMinataSamate(H.E) || African Union Commission

  21. ChimamandaNgoziAdichie || Author

  22. Clare Akamanzi || Rwanda Development Board

  23. CoumbaToure || Africans Rising Movement

  24. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon || International Labour Organisation

  25. DelphineMaidou || Allianz Africa

  26. Diane Karusisi(Dr) || Bank of Kigali

  27. Elisabeth MedouBadang || Orange Africa

  28. Elizabeth ElangoBintliff || Junior Achievement Africa

  29. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (H.E) || The Elders

  30. Farida Bemba Nabourema|| Togolese Civil League

  31. Fatima K. Mohammed (H.E) || United Nations

  32. Fatma Samba DioufSamoura || FIFA

  33. FatouBomBensouda || International Criminal Court

  34. FatouJagne Senghor || Article 19 West Africa

  35. FolorunshoAlakija || Famfa Oil

  36. Genevieve Nnaji || Actress

  37. Gladys Kokorwe || National Assembly of Botswana

  38. GraçaMachel || GracaMachel Trust

  39. Hanna Tetteh(H.E) || United Nations

  40. KamissaCamara (Hon) || Malian Cabinet Minister

  41. IbukunAwosika || First Bank of Nigeria

  42. Ilwad Elman || Elman Peace and Human Rights Center

  43. Irene Ovonji-Odida || The Uganda Association of Women Lawyers

  44. Jackie Chimhanzi(Dr) || African Leadership Institute

  45. Janine KacouDiagou || Nsia Groupe

  46. Jeannine MabundaLioko || DRC National Assembly

  47. Jewel Taylor (H.E) || Liberian Vice President

  48. Josefa Leonel CorreiaSacko(H.E) || African Union Commission

  49. Joyce Aryee(Dr) || Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd

  50. Joyce Msuya || United Nations Environment Programme

  51. Joyce-Ann Wainaina || Citi East Africa

  52. Judy Dlamini(Dr) || University of the Witwatersrand

  53. Juliana Kantengwa(Dr) || Pan African Parliament

  54. Julie Gichuru || Acumen Communication Ltd

  55. Justice Irene Mambilima || Supreme Court of Zambia

  56. Justina Mutale || Justina Mutale Foundation

  57. Khadja Nin || Musician

  58. LeymahGbowee || Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa

  59. Linda Ikeji || Blogger

  60. Louise Mushikiwabo || Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie

  61. Lupita Nyong’o || Actress

  62. Mandisa Maya || Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa

  63. Mariam Jack-Denton || National Assembly of the Gambia

  64. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti(Dr) || WHO

  65. Maya Hanoomanjee || National Assembly of Mauritius

  66. Meaza Ashenafi || Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia

  67. Michelle Ndiaye || Africa Peace and Security Programme

  68. Mo Abudu || Ebony Life TV

  69. Monica Geingos(H.E) || Namibian First Lady

  70. Mosun Belo-Olusoga || Access Bank PLC Nigeria

  71. Nadia Fettah || Saham Finances

  72. NgoziOkonjoIweala || Gavi Alliance

  73. Nicky Newton-King || Johannesburg Stock Exchange

  74. NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma (H.E) || South African Cabinet Minister

  75. NunuNtshingila || Facebook Africa

  76. ObiageliEzekwesili || Transparency International

  77. OmotolaJaladeEkeinde || Actress

  78. OsaretinDemuren || GT Bank PLC Nigeria

  79. OumouSangaré || Musician

  80. PhumzileMlambo-Ngcuka(Dr) || UN Women

  81. Precious Moloi-Motsepe(Dr) || African Fashion International

  82. Priscilla Schwartz (Dr) || Sierra Leone Cabinet Minister

  83. PriscillahMabelane || BP Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd

  84. Rebecca Akufo-Addo(H.E) || Ghanaian First Lady

  85. Rebecca Enonchong || Apps Tech

  86. Rebecca Kadaga(Rt. Hon. ) || Parliament of Uganda

  87. RetselisitsoeMatlanyane(Dr) || Central Bank of Lesotho

  88. SaaraKuugongelwa-Amadhila (Rt. Hon. Dr) || Namibian Prime Minister

  89. Sahle-Work Zewde(H.E) || Ethiopian President

  90. Sarah MbiEnow Anyang Agbor(Prof H.E) || African Union Commission

  91. Sheila Tlou(Professor ) || Global HIV Prevention Coalition

  92. Sola David-Borha || Standard Bank Africa

  93. Sophie Ikenye || BBC Focus on Africa

  94. Tiwa Savage || Musician

  95. TsitsiMasiyiwa || Higherlife Foundation

  96. Vera Songwe (Dr) || United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

  97. VerónicaMacamo || Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique

  98. Wendy Lucas Bull || Absa Group Limited

  99. Winnie Byanyima || Oxfam International

  100. Yvonne Chaka Chaka || Musician
First Lady, Hanna Tetteh et al listed amongst 100 Most Influential African Women