Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit 2025: Honoring Female Leaders and Afrobeats Icons
March is dedicated to celebrating women worldwide, notably through International Women's Day on March 8. This event highlights women's achievements and contributions globally. Thus, March serves as a pivotal moment to reflect on progress made in gender equality and to reinforce the call for women's empowerment.
In this context, the Forbes Woman Africa Leading Women Summit stands out as a significant event. Since its inception, it has annually honored International Women's Day, celebrating the achievements and resilience of women across Africa and the world. In 2025, the summit reached a milestone by celebrating its 10th anniversary on March 5 at Time Square, Pretoria, under the theme "To The Power Of 10: The Rule-Breakers In Africa’s Next Chapter."
The evening was also marked by the participation of several female leaders in their respective fields. Among them, Tems, the Nigerian singer recently awarded her second Grammy Award, captivated the audience with her impressive rise in the music industry. Tems embodies the dynamism and innovation of the African music scene.
The summit also brought together other influential artists such as Gyakie, a Ghanaian R&B and Afro-fusion singer known for hits like "Forever" and "Something"; Zolani Mahola; Yvonne Chaka Chaka; Nissi Ogulu and Tiwa Savage, illustrating the diversity and richness of African female talent.
The day concluded with the prestigious Forbes Woman Africa Awards Gala Dinner, honoring women who have achieved remarkable accomplishments in various fields. The award categories included: Young Achiever, Technology and Innovation, Social Impact, Youth Icon, Academic Excellence, Champion of Change, Entertainer, Media Icon, Businesswoman of the Year, Lifetime Achievement.
These awards highlighted the significant impact of African women in their respective sectors, reinforcing the summit's central message: empowering and recognizing women's contributions to the continent's development.
Celebrating Leaders in the African Music Industry
Several female and male leaders in their domains were honored, with the music industry notably represented. Nigerian artist Tiwa Savage, widely regarded as the Queen of Afrobeats, received the Forbes Woman Africa Media Icon Award. She embodies a unique fusion of Afrobeats, R&B, soul, and pop. Nissi Ogulu, a young Nigerian artist who defines the term "polymath," was awarded the Forbes Woman Africa Youth Icon Award. A musician, visual artist, and entrepreneur, she manages her own business alongside her musical career. Tholsi Pillay, a renowned talent manager whose expertise has propelled her clients to remarkable heights in the music industry, she won the Forbes Woman Africa Champion of entertainent an promotion award.
Let us discover the other awardees of the evening.
Forbes Woman Africa change maker of the decade award : Arunma Oteh, Chairperson of the 124-year-old Royal African Society and holds the position of Executive In Residence & Member, Global Leadership Council at the Said Business School, University of Oxford. She was previously Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank, and Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria.
Forbes Woman Africa Social Impact Award : Wanjira Mathai is the Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships at the World Resources Institute. Having worked with her mother and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, she is a formidable force in climate and development advocacy, and spearheads transformative initiatives that promote sustainable economic development.
Forbes Woman Africa Technology & Innovation Award : Jessica Mshama, an entrepreneur from Tanzania with a deep passion for empowering women and youth through digital skills, job opportunities, and financial education.
Forbes Woman Africa next generation Award : Hephzibah Akinwale secured the world record title for the longest fiction novel written by a child author at the age of 10 years in September 2023, with her book, ‘Chronicles of the Time Keepers: Whisked Away’, with over 58,000 words, inspiring other young writers.
Forbes Woman Africa young achiever Award : Eniola Shokunbi is already a children’s health advocate and innovator! Born in the US, and of Nigerian descent, she has been honoured by the Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation and is already known for her fight for cleaner air and the installation of air filters in classrooms around the world.
Forbes Woman Africa Academic Excellence Award : Dr Adriana Marais is Director of the Foundation for Space Development Africa and Head of Science for the Foundation’s Africa2Moon Project which is in the running to become Africa’s first mission to the Moon.
Forbes Woman Africa Excellence in entertainment Award : Minnie Dlamini,An entrepreneur behind the lens in South Africa’s entertainment industry,she is also an actress, Executive Producer and TV Host. She has earned herself the title of South Africa’s Diamond with over 9.3 million followers both on Instagram and Twitter. Minnie has graced the cover pages of numerous high-profile publications including FORBES AFRICA.
Forbes Woman Africa visionary ally Award : Luol Deng, a former NBA star known for his leadership and community work. He actively uses his platform to promote and support women’s empowerment. Deng’s focus is on initiatives that uplift women, particularly in the areas of education and leadership.
Forbes Woman Africa Entertainer of the year Award :Sarah Hassan, a multi-award-winning actress, Producer, and TV Host. Throughout her dazzling career, she has garnered numerous accolades, including Best Actress at the Kalasha Awards in 2019 for her role in “Plan B”.
Forbes Woman Africa Champion of change award: Dr. Glenda Gray was the first female President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, leading the Council for 10 years in this role. Currently, a Professor and Director of the Infectious Disease and Oncology Research Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand, as a scientist, she has led the clinical development of HIV vaccines on the continent, and also focused on transformation and increasing diversity in science.
Forbes Woman Africa Businesswoman Award : Rita Zwane, the Founder of Imbizo Shisanyama Busy Corner, affectionately known as maZwane. She has become a legend in South Africa as a pioneering township entrepreneur with her sights set firmly on empowering and uplifting ordinary South Africans and revitalising the township economy.
Forbes Woman Africa Lifetime Achievement Award : Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and the first African to take on the role of Director-General at the World Trade Organization in March 2021. She is a global finance expert, an economist and international development professional with over 40 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America.
This event not only celebrated the achievements of African women but also served as a platform to inspire and encourage the next generation of female leaders to push boundaries and redefine norms in their respective sectors.
-AMG Records
