Ellen Johnson Sirleaf leads 7 Africans in 2017 BBC 100 Women list

The BBC has revealed a list of 60 inspirational and innovative women for 2017. The women on the list will be part of the 100 Women Challenge, tackling some of the biggest problems facing women around the world. There are still 40 spaces to be filled. The BBC says as the season progresses, more women will be added to the list.

Notable this year is that out of the sixty women listed, seven are African. 

Adelle Onyago – a radio and television host from Kenya seeking to empower young women through mentorship and apprenticeship programmes

Anita Nderu – a TV presenter and radio news anchor at Capital FM based in Nairobi, Kenya who is passionate about mentoring youth

Ellen Johnson – the 24th and current President of Liberia since 2006 and the first elected female head of state in Africa

Marieme Jamme – taught herself to read and write at the age of 16 and is now a self-made businesswoman in Senegal

Naomi Mwaura – a lead organiser of the anti-harassment protest #MyDressMyChoice, which changed the law around harassment inKenya

Talent Jumo – supports victims of revenge porn, giving them counselling and legal advice and fighting for sexual and reproductive health rights for women in Zimbabwe

Tiwa Savage – a Nigerian singer, songwriter and philanthropist Tiwa Savage is an intergral member of the Afrobeats scene and plans to open a music school

Taken from across all spheres of modern life – from engineering to the creative industries, from sport to business – they represent the global wealth of female talent. 

Coming together in four teams, the women will share their experiences and create innovative ways to tackle:

  • The glass ceiling – #Teamlead
  • Female illiteracy – #Teamread
  • Street harassment – #Teamgo
  • Sexism in sport – #Teamplay

The list of all 60 women can be viewed on the BBC’s website

About the 100 Women?

BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. In 2017, we’re challenging them to tackle four of the biggest problems facing women today – the glass ceiling, female illiteracy, harassment in public spaces and sexism in sport.

With your help, they’ll be coming up with real-life solutions and we want you to get involved with your ideas. Find us on FacebookInstagram and Twitter and use #100Women

 

 

Source: BBC/Ameyawdebrah.com

 

Menu