Forbes Africa Under 30 List – Nominations for the 5th Edition are now open

This is an opportunity for all Africans, under 30 years of age, who are building brands, creating jobs, representing and transforming the African continent, to join the prestigious Forbes Africa Under 30 community for 2019.


Every year, the prestigious Forbes Africa magazine looks for empowering young people, innovators, entrepreneurs and resilient “disrupters” who shine in their fields, all across Africa. According to Forbes Africa’s Managing Editor Methil Renuka, every year from the African continent emerges young luminaries who are blazing the trail to the finish line. Thus, the idea of the list is to discover these young personalities and expose them on their way up.

This year’s list (2019) will be the fifth anniversary of the Forbes Africa Under 30 list. The particularity of this edition is the introduction of a new category – Sports. Renuka declared that “Leaders are also born in the world of sport. It requires grit and determination to be a gamechanger and they definitely need to be celebrated early”. This also means that the new category will be in addition to the three categories – Creatives, Technology, and Business, that were considered in 2018.

So, the call goes to all African entrepreneurs, creatives. Technology entrepreneurs or sports stars under 30 who think they have what it takes to be on this year’s list. Or if you think you know anybody with the above-mentioned qualifications and a proven track record on the African continent, please introduce them to Forbes Africa by submitting your nomination latest by 15th February 2019.

Past honorees include Kwesta, Nomzamo Mbatha, Wiz Kid, Ink Eze, Jokate Mwegelo, Gilbert Eugene Peters, Vere Shaba, Kevin Lubega, Davido, Rivo Mhlari, Nasty C, Yemi Alade, Yannick Nzonde, and Isaya Yunge. Here are the eligibility criteria:

Business & Technology categories:

  • Must be an entrepreneur aged 29 or younger on 30 June 2019
  • Should have a legitimate REGISTERED business on the continent
  • Business or businesses should be two years or older
  • Nominees must have risked own money and have a social impact
  • Must be profit generating
  • Must employ people in Africa
  • All applications must be in English
  • Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Sports Category:

  • Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 30 June 2019
  • Must be representing an African team
  • Should have a proven track record of no less than two years
  • Should be making significant earnings
  • Should have some endorsement deals
  • Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus
  • All applications must be in English
  • Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Sports Category:

  • Must be a sports person aged 29 or younger on 30 June 2019
  • Must be representing an African team
  • Should have a proven track record of no less than two years
  • Should be making significant earnings
  • Should have some endorsement deals
  • Entrepreneurship and social impact is a plus
  • All applications must be in English
  • Should be available and prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up

Your entry should include:

  • Country
  • Full Name
  • Company name/Team
  • A short reason why they should be an Under 30
  • Links of published material about the nominee
  • Contact information

Share your photographs, via email. All Nominations must be sent through these emails:karen.mwendera@abn360.com30under30@abn360.com & ancillar.mangena@abn360.com
All nominees will be vetted by a panel, FORBES AFRICA editors and the editorial team.

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