From left to right: Photo by Daniel ROLAND / AFP; Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100; Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images.
Here are the African Women on the 2020 BBC '100 Women' List
Grammy award-winning singer, Angélique Kidjo, humanitarian and activist, Ilwad Elman, and Booker Prize shortlisted author, Tsitsi Dangarembga, made the list along with many other phenomenal women.
The BBC has released its annual 100 Women list. The list is a global compilation of formidable and driven women who are change leaders in their respective fields. These prolific women have been actively working unceasingly despite a turbulent year following the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. Grammy award-winning Beninese singer, Angélique Kidjo, Somalian activist, Ilwad Elman and Zimbabwean author and activist, Tsitsi Dangarembga, made the list alongside with many others.
<p><a href="https://100women.okayafrica.com/the-women-2020" target="_blank"><strong><em>READ: The Women - OkayAfrica 100 Women</em></strong></a></p><p> The 2020 <strong><em>BBC</em></strong> <em>100 Women</em> list selects influential women from around the world in four categories: identity, creativity, knowledge and leadership. Kidjo has been acknowledged for her notable cultural work, having recently <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/grammy-awards-change-name-of-international-category-/" target="_blank">won the Grammy for her <em>Celia </em>album</a> in the "World Music Album" category. Kidjo is also a Unicef Ambassador for children's rights and runs her own organisation, <em>Batonga,</em> which advocates for the education of girls. </p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>Elman is listed for her humanitarian work in Somalia. <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/ilwad-elman-wins-german-africa-prize-2020/" target="_blank">Elman recently won the prestigious German Africa Prize </a>in October of this year for her continued work in rehabilitating child soldiers and sexual violence survivors. Additionally, Dangarembga is on the list for her <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/tsitsi-dangarembga-and-maaza-mengiste-make-2020-booker-prize-longlist/" target="_blank">award-winning writing</a>. Dangarembga was also actively involved in <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/zimbabweanlivesmatter-ausouth-africa/" target="_blank">Zimbabwe's anti-governmental demonstrations</a> this past July where <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/8/1/zimbabwean-author-tsitsi-dangarembga-released-on-bail" target="_blank">she was arrested by authorities.</a> Zambian artist and curator,<strong> Mulenga Kapwepwe </strong>is acknowledged for marking Zambian's women's historical contribution to the nation. She, along with <strong>Samba Yonga</strong>, co-founded the narrative-changing <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/samba-yonga-womens-history-museum-in-zambia-africa/" target="_blank">Zambian Women's History Museum</a>.</p><p>Other notable women on the list are: Ethiopian footballer, <strong>Loza Abera Geinort</strong>,<strong> </strong>Moroccan rapper and women's rights activist, <strong>Houda Abouz</strong>, Mayor in Sierra Leone, <strong>Yvonne Aki-Swayerr </strong>and<strong> </strong>climate change activist, <strong>Vanessa Nakate</strong>,<strong> </strong>who <a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/climate-change-activism-vanessa-nakate-interview-doha-debates/" target="_blank">recently interviewed with </a><em><a href="https://www.okayafrica.com/climate-change-activism-vanessa-nakate-interview-doha-debates/">Doha Debates</a> </em>about environmental racism and climate change activism in Africa. Somaliland's <strong>Ubah Ali</strong> and Tanzanian lawyer, <strong>Rebeca Gyumi</strong>,<strong> </strong>have also been honoured on the list. </p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>Nigerian filmmaker and LGBT activist, <strong>Uyaiedu Ipke-Etim</strong>, makes the list for her film <em>Ifẹ́ </em>(which means "love" in Yoruba) and tells the story of two Nigerian lesbians. The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54070446" target="_blank">film was controversially censored in Nigeria</a> where homosexuality is currently illegal. South African singer <strong>Zahara</strong>, real name <strong>Bulelwa Mkutukana</strong>, is also on the list. </p><p><strong><em>BBC</em></strong> <em>100 Women</em> deliberately left a blank spot as a tribute to all the women who have made sacrifices in their respective communities. </p><p>Of course, our summation is certainly not an acknowledgement of <em>all</em> the incredible African women featured on this year's prestigious list. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-55042935" target="_blank">Read up on the rest of the list on the <strong><em>BBC</em></strong></a>.</p>
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