African & African American Studies

Double Olympic champion at the marathon (1960 and 1964) - Won the 1960 marathon running barefoot and gained the first gold medal for a black African.

Third President of Egypt. Sadat reintroduced multi-party elections and led Egypt in the Yom Kippur war. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978 for his role in peace talks with Israel.

Dr. Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu is a Nigerian-American physician, forensic pathologist, and neuropathologist who was the first to discover and publish findings on chronic traumatic encephalopathy in American football players while working at the Allegheny County coroner's office in Pittsburgh.

Secretary-General of the United Nations (1992-1996). Born in Egypt. Also served as Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister

Nigerian, novelist. He authored the best-selling 1958 classic; Things Fall Apart which has made him into one of the best selling African authors.

Queen of Egypt. She sought to defend Egypt from the Roman Empire, forming an alliance with Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar.

South African Nobel peace prize winner 1984. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a prominent figurehead in the campaign against apartheid. After the fall of apartheid, he took part in the Truth and Reconciliation process to heal the wounds of apartheid. Desmond Tutu has become a leading global humanitarian and ambassador of goodwill.

Florence Nwanzuruahu Nkiru Nwapa, was a Nigerian author who has been called the mother of modern African Literature. She was the forerunner to a generation of African women writers, and the first African woman novelist to be published in the English language in Britain.

South African Nobel Prize winner and President (1989-1994) De Klerk oversaw the end of white-only rule in South Africa and for his efforts was awarded the Nobel peace prize – jointly with Nelson Mandela.

Second President of Egypt (1956). Nasser’s Presidency had a significant influence on Egypt and world politics. He renationalised the Suez canal and was popular throughout the Arab world.

South Africa. One of the most successful golf players of all time. Winner 9 major championships. Placing him 4th on the all-time list of most successful golf players.

Record-breaking distance runner. Gebrselassie set world records in the marathon and won numerous world champions.

Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930. Selassie became an inspirational figure in the movement for African independence for the way he resisted the Italian invasion of Ethiopia during the 1930s.

(Morocco, athletics) Double Olympic gold medallist in 2004 – at 1500m and 5,000m. Set world record for mile and 1500m.

Joel Hans Embiid is a Cameroonian and American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Joyce Banda is the first female to be elected president in Malawi. As the founder of the National Association of Business Women, Young Women Leaders Network, and the Hunger Project, Banda has fought for human rights and education across Malawi.

Secretary-General of The United Nations from 1997-2006. Born in Ghana, Kofi Annan served two terms and was widely admired for his calm and diplomatic skills.

Led the Gold Coast to independence from colonial rule and became President of the new country – Ghana. A leading advocate of Pan-Africanism and African independence.

Mansa Musa was the ruler of the African country Mali. At the time, the country produced 50% of the world’s gold and salt. These rich natural resources enabled him to become the richest person of all time. One study suggests, adjusted for inflation he amassed a fortune of $400 billion.

Zenzile Miriam Makeba, nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she was an advocate against apartheid and white-minority government in South Africa.

Nelson Mandela was an active member of the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Mandela was imprisoned for over 27 years for trying to overthrow the apartheid regime. He was released in 1990 and became the first democratically elected President of South Africa in 1994. His magnanimous personality helped to heal the rift between the white and black populations. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

First President of modern Nigeria (1963 – 1966).

The first black African slave to write about his experience as a slave. His book ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano‘ played a pivotal role in turning public opinion in Britain against slavery.

South African Zulu King

Augustine was born near Hippo (modern-day Algeria). He became an influential bishop and Christian writer.

Steve Biko was an anti-apartheid activist who spearheaded the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa.

Tegla Chepkite Loroupe is a Kenyan long-distance track and road runner. She is also a global spokeswoman for peace, women's rights and education.

Kenyan environmental and political activist, who led initiatives to plant trees and support the green belt movement. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2004.

Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde "Wole" Soyinka CFR is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language.