The
RENAISSANCE
MEN
BY BOIPELO JEAN CHABABA
2019 has been an interesting year for us as black people. At Glam Africa, we're used to celebrating remarkable women and putting their achievements on full display, but for this edition we wanted to specially acknowledge some of the strides being made by men, that are changing the world in big ways. From music to TV & film, and even the world of sports, here are a few that have wowed us this year.
Burna Boy, The glue between Old Africa and New Africa
Whether the title is self-professed or fanbestowed, it is certain that the Nigerian-born ‘African Giant’ is indeed the giant we needed to bridge the gap between the old sound of Africa and a new one, which has now gone global. Burna Boy draws inspiration from musical legends like Fela Kuti and Hugh Masekela to create a unique sound that has captured international ears like none other.
Akon, Lighting up the way Every now and again we find ourselves wondering where Akon is, and what he is up to, but with each instance, the answer lies somewhere with his contributions to the growth of the African continent. In 2015 the Senegalese artist launched a solar project that was projected to provide electricity for around 600 million people. Very few men in recent years have come close to matching Akon's contributions towards eradicating poverty and improving the lives of African people. 66
