Mandisa Mfeka joined the South African Air Force in 2008 and earned her wings a year after starting flying school in 2010. Now she is South Africa’s first black female combat pilot.
Africans rising
Africans rising Lisa Chiriseri: The young activist working to eradicate pit latrines in schools
Access to education is a basic human right but many young children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Zimbabwe still struggle to get access to learning opportunities because of many barriers. FACEZ (Fund a Child’s Education Zimbabwe), an education fund is helping underprivileged children to get access to education, and improving toilet facilities in schools. Led by Lisa Chiriseri, a young activist, the project currently supports over 90 learners.
Africans rising Iddris Sandu, a tech genius, software engineer and cultural architect
Iddris Sandu is the technological virtuoso behind algorithms that made Uber, Instagram and Snapchat what they are now. The software engineer also considers himself a “cultural architect” who aims to “level the playing field” between Silicon Valley and young communities of colour.
Africans rising Meet Mary Consolata Namagambe, the Ugandan activist tackling period poverty
Law student and human rights activist Mary C. Namagambe is the founder of She for She. This hybrid company is working to tackle the lack of access to appropriate health care information and products, as well as the rate at which young girls in Africa are dropping out of schooling due to period poverty.
Africans rising Ellah Wakatama is the new Caine Prize chairperson
Zimbabwean editor and publisher Ellah Wakatama has been appointed as the new chairperson of Africa’s richest literary prize.
Africans rising Meet South African biological scientist Patrick Siyambulela Mafunda, the man attempting to save the African penguin
African penguins, known for their irregular markings and loud call, are in sharp decline. The species has gone from a population of more than a million at the beginning of the 20th century to being endangered. South African bioscientist Patrick Mafunda is using in-vitro fertilisation to help the species survive.
Africans rising Senegalese media advisor Sibeth Ndiaye becomes France’s government spokeswoman
Senegalese-born media advisor Sibeth Ndiaye, who was French President Emmanuel Macron’s communications advisor for his presidential campaign, has been appointed as the spokeswoman for the French government. She is one of three new faces in the Cabinet as it gears up for the European Parliament elections next month.
Africans rising Meet Dehlia Umunna, the first Nigerian to be appointed as a professor at Harvard Law School
Dehlia Umunna, deputy director and clinical instructor at Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Institute, is the first Nigerian to be appointed as a professor at Harvard School of Law.
Africans rising Meet 17-year-old Ghanaian Jeramy Botwe, who got into eight Ivy League schools
Getting accepted at your university of choice is one of the best things that can happen to a student. Jeramy Botwe is a 17-year-old Ghanaian who applied to 15 universities and got into all of them. Of the 15 schools, eight were Ivy League.