BBC 100 Women has announced its list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2018. Here is a list of all the African women who made the list this year.
Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, 33 – Social impact entrepreneur, Nigeria: Abisoye is the founder of GirlsCoding, an NGO that teaches girls how to code, design and build websites that help solve problems in their communities.
Nimco Ali, 35 – Writer and activist, Somaliland: Nimco is an award-winning FGM (female genital mutilation) activist.
Noma Dumezweni, 49 – Actor, eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland): Noma is the first woman to play the adult version of Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, playing in London’s West End and Broadway, New York.
Shrouk El-Attar, 26 – Electronic design engineer, Egypt: Shrouk is a refugee and full-time engineer, who uses belly dancing to raise awareness and campaign for the rights of the LGBT+ community in Egypt.
Raghda Ezzeldin, 26 – Free-diver, Egypt: Raghda is a record-breaking free-diver, who descends to extreme depths without breathing apparatus.
Mamitu Gashe, 72 – Senior nurse aide/fistula surgeon, Ethiopia: Mamitu is now an internationally certified fistula surgeon, after being treated for fistula (an injury which can occur in childbirth) herself.
Thando Hopa, 29 – Model, lawyer, activist, South Africa: Thando is a diversity and inclusion advocate. Cast in the Pirelli calendar 2018, she is the first person of colour in South Africa to have featured in the publication.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, 35 – Environmentalist and advocate for indigenous people and women, Chad: Hindou is an indigenous woman of Chad, advocating for the protection of the environment and for the rights of indigenous peoples on an international scale.
Ruth Medufia, 27 – Metal worker, Ghana: Ruth is a female welder who lives in an urban slum community and aspires to be a role model for young women in the construction industry.
Amina J Mohammed, 57 – Deputy secretary general, United Nations, Nigeria: Amina is a former minister of environment in Nigeria and has previously been a special adviser to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Helena Ndume, 58 – Ophthalmologist, Namibia: Helena has performed sight-restoring surgeries upon 35,000 Namibians, free of charge – many of her patients now call her “Namibia’s miracle doctor”.
Olivette Otele, 48 – Professor in History at Bath Spa University, Cameroon: Olivette is a historian and memory scholar who works on European colonial history and post-colonial legacies.
Brigitte Sossou Perenyi, 28 – Documentary producer, Ghana: Brigitte is an award-winning documentary producer, who told her story of being a Trokosi – a practice that sends girls to serve priests in shrines as payment for the “sins” of their family – and being trafficked from Togo to Ghana.
Fatma Samoura, 56 – Fifa secretary general, Senegal: Fatma is the first woman and the first African to hold the position of secretary general of Fifa.
Juliet Sargeant, 53 – Garden designer, Tanzania: Juliet is a doctor-turned-garden designer working to make “places that feel as good as they look”.
Bola Tinubu, 51 – Lawyer, Nigeria: Bola is a corporate lawyer who established the first free children’s helpline in Nigeria.
It’s been a momentous year for women’s rights around the globe, so the 2018 BBC 100 Women reflects the trailblazing women who are using passion, indignation and anger to spark real change in the world around them.
See the BBC 100 women List
SOURCE: BBC