Meet the Africa Genius Awards 2022 Winners

It’s time for African geniuses to have a stake in shaping the future of our society, and time for them to be recognised.

The definition of an African Genius according to Priority Performance Projects: “Any individual who possesses unique characteristics and skills and has used them to address challenges or to impact African societies in ways that are uplifting, transformative, build the esteem of Africans and inspire them to make significant contributions to the continent and its countries’ development in different ways.”

Prof Wole
Soyinka

(Nigeria)

Prof Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, becoming Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature.

Prof Ngugi
Thiong’o

(Kenya)

Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o is a Kenyan writer who was considered East Africa’s leading novelist. His popular Weep Not, Child (1964) was the first major novel in English by an East African.

Prof Ali
Mazrui

(Kenya)

Prof Ngugi wa Thiong’o is a Kenyan writer who was considered East Africa’s leading novelist. His popular Weep Not, Child (1964) was the first major novel in English by an East African.

Outstanding African Achievers

Dr. Akinwumi
Adesina

(Nigeria)

a Nigerian economist who is currently serving as the President of the African Development Bank. He previously served as Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Dr David Moinina
Sengeh

(Sierra Leone)

Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and Chief Innovation Officer for the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Sierra Leone.

Dr Ngalula Sandrine
Mubenga

(Democratic Republic of Congo)

a Congolese engineer, a professor of electrical engineering technology, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a government official leading the electrification initiative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ms Bethlehem Tilahun
Alemu

(Ethiopia)

a businessperson, founder and executive director of SoleRebels, Africa’s "fastest-growing footwear company".

Mr Joseph-Achille
Mbembe

(ameroon)

a Cameroonian philosopher, political theorist, and public intellectual who is Research Professor in History and Politics at the Wits Institute for Social and Economy Research at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Mr Kelvin
Doe

(Sierra Leone)

an engineer known for teaching himself engineering at the age of 12 and building his own radio station in Sierra Leone.

Mr Paulin J.
Hountondji

(South Africa)

a Beninese French philosopher, politician and academic considered one of the most important figures in the history of African philosophy.

Prof Patrick
Lumumba

(Kenya)

an advocate of the high courts of Kenya and Tanzania, prolific lawyer, law lecturer at the University of Nairobi, who has been the Director of The Kenya School of Laws since 2014.

Mr Nana Kwame
Bediako

(Kenya)

an entrepreneur, industrialist, philanthropist, and real estate mogul.

Mr Runcie C.W.
Chidebe

(Nigeria)

an oncology researcher, cancer control advocate, and psychologist at Project PINK BLUE - Health & Psychological Trust Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.

Mr Vusi
Thembekwayo

(South Africa)

a business mogul, global business speaker, author, and CEO of MyGrowthFund Venture Partners.