Can’t Believe This: Forbes Names 40 Most Powerful Celebrities In Africa & There Is No Ghanaian In There…

Forbes has named what they call ‘40 Most Powerful Celebrities‘ in Africa and I am extremely shocked with the list. Out of their 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa, no Ghanaian appeared in there….

Did they forget about Ghana? Names like Genevieve Nnanji, Didier Drogba , Don Jazzy, 2face, P-square and others made the list and yet Reggie Rockstone, Jackie Appiah, Michael Essien, Abedi Pele and others from Ghana could not be counted in…

The list was compiled by Forbes contributor- Mfonobong Nsehe. According to Mfonobong, he based the list on this…

“Determining the celebrities who exert the highest degree of influence in contemporary African pop culture involved sifting through the nominations for the individuals with the highest numbers of votes, and then measuring their media visibility (exposure in print, television, radio and online), number of web references on Google, TV/radio mentions and their general clout across the continent. Ideally, a robust social media presence would have been an invaluable yardstick in determining the intensity of influence these individuals exert over their enthusiasts.”

Anyway, what do you think about the list? Do you agree with it and what do you think of the no mention of any Ghanaian celebrity?

Based on the fact that Abedi Pele, Michael Essien and other names did not pop up, I can boldly say…The list is somehow groundless, biased and probably full of CRAP!

I am not hating but based on the criteria outlined above, how can Nneka, 2face, Don Jazzy, Samuel Eto’o, Genevieve Nnaji,  D’Banj, Asa and  K’Naan make the list without any Ghanaian?  I can point out several Ghanaian celebrities who can displace some of these people based on the criteria above….

Full List Below…

1. Chinua Achebe, 80, Nigerian, Novelist
2. Youssou N’dour, Age: 51, Senegalese, Musician
3. Didier Drogba, 33, Ivorian, Soccer Player
4. Angelique Kidjo, 51, Beninoise, Musician
5. Akon, 38, Senegalese, Musician
6. Wole Soyinka, 77, Nigerian, Playwright
7. Salif Keita, 62, Malian, Musician
8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 46, South African, Musician
9. Oumou Sangare, 43, Malian, Musician
10. Femi Kuti, 49, Nigerian, Musician
11. Toumani Diabaté, Malian, Musician
12. Oliver Mtukudzi, 59, Zimbabwean, Musician
13. Haile Gebrselassie, 38, Ethiopian, Athlete
14. Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, 51, Algerian, Musician
15. Samuel Eto’o, 30, Cameroonian, Soccer Player
16. Alek Wek, 34, Sudanese, Supermodel
17. Liya Kebede, 33, Ethiopian, Supermodel
18. Dobet Gnahoré, 29, Ivorian, Musician
19. Genevieve Nnaji, 32, Nigerian, Actress
20. Koffi Olomidé, 55, Congolese, Musician
21. Neill Blomkamp, 32, South African, Movie Director
22. Souad Massi, 39, Algerian, Musician
23. Baaba Maal, 58, Senegalese, Musician
24. Hugh Masekela, 72, South African, Musician
25. K’Naan, 33, Somali, Rapper
26. Amadou and Mariam, Malian, Musicians
27. Awilo Longomba, Congolese, Musician
28. Eric Wainaina, 38, Kenyan, Musician
29. Binyavanga Wainaina, 40, Kenyan, Author
30. Ngugi Wa Thiongo, 73, Kenyan, Author
31. Freshlyground, South African, Musicians
32. Chimamanda Adichie, 34, Nigerian, Writer
33. Rokia Traoré, 37, Malian, Musician
34. Tuface Idibia, 36, Nigerian, Musician
35. P-Square, 29, Nigerian, Musicians
36. Don Jazzy, 30, Nigerian, Music Producer
37. D’Banj, 31, Nigerian, Musician
38. Nneka, 31, Nigerian, Musician
39. Asa, 29, Nigerian, Musician
40. Patricia Amira, 33, Kenyan, TV Personality

Maybe it is because Ghanaians could not be bothered to vote!