Two Kenyans are in the list of ’25 Most influential Africans in America’ list, recently compiled by The African Sun Times. The two are Ngugi wa Thiong’o (a novelist and professor) and Dr F. George Njoroge (a scientist).Ngugi wa Thiong’o is one of Africa’s best known authors of Literature. He has written extensively on post-colonial African literature, winning many awards in the process, while also coming close several times to being one of the candidates for the Nobel Prize in Literature. His books include, Weep Not, Child (1964); The River Between (1965); A Grain of Wheat (1967); A Meeting in the Dark (1974); The Trial of Dedan Kimathi (1976); Petals of Blood (1977); Devil on the Cross (1980, 1982); Mother, Sing For Me (1986); Matigari ma Njiruungi (1986); Wizard of the Crow (2004, 2006).
In addition to writing, he is also a professor, journalist and social activist. He is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Comparative Literature and English at the University of California, Irvine.
Dr F. George Njroroge, a Senior Research Fellow at Eli Lilly, was at the center of the development of the Hepatitis C drug Victrelis. The drug was approved by the FDA in 2011, and is considered the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of the Hepatitis C virus in the last decade. Victrelis is currently on sale in over 23 countries. In recognition of his accomplishment, Dr Njoroge was inducted into the coveted scientific “Hall of Fame” as a 2012 Hero of Chemistry by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific societyOther Africans named in the ’25 Most influential Africans in America’ list are:
- Amsale Aberra (Ethiopian) - Fashion designer and entrepreneur, with her store located in the trendy Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City
- Chinua Achebe (Nigerian who is since deceased) – Professor and novelist
- Akon (Senegalese) – Hip-hop recording artist
- Richard Attias (Morocco) – Community builder
- George Ayittey (Ghanaian) – Professor at American University and associate Scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
- Mamadou Beye (Malian) - Manager, International Government Affairs for the Chevron Corporation, based in Washington, DC
- Kassahun Checole (Eritrean) - Founder and publisher of Africa World Press, the largest African publishing company in America.
- Helene Cooper (Liberian) – White House correspondent for the New York Times
- Makhtar Diop ( Senegalese) – World Bank Vice President for Africa
- Asfaha Hadera (Ethiopian) – Founder of the Committee to Aid Ethiopian Refugees
- Beatrice Hamza-Bassey (Nigerian) – Partner at Hughes Hubbard, one of the world’s most prestigious law firms
- Djimon Hounsou (Benin) – Actor, singer and model
- Adam Kane (Malian) – Founder and Chairman of the International Business Express
- Iman (Somali) – Supermodel, actress and entrepreneur
- Angelique Kidjo (Benin) – Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter
- Ave Kludze (Ghanaian) – Rocket scientist at NASA
- Imam Souleymane Konate (Ivory Coast) – Muslim leader, one of the most visible faces of Africans in the New York region
- Leonard Madu (Nigerian) – Founder and President of the African Caribbean Institute and the African Chamber of Commerce
- Adebayo Ogunlesi (Nigerian) – Chairman and Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners
- Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigerian) – Retired National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors
- Charlize Theron (South Africa) – Hollywood actress and fashion model
- Alek Wek (South Sudanese) – Supermodel
- Daniel Yohannes (Ethiopian) - Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
