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In-depth profiles of the entertainers, entrepreneurs, creatives and personalities making headlines — who they are and how they got here.

Backing singer for George Michael, Berklee graduate, coronation performer: the making of Tiwa Savage Entertainment Backing singer for George Michael, Berklee graduate, coronation performer: the making of Tiwa Savage Tiwa Savage was born in Lagos, moved to London at 11, sang backing vocals for international stars and studied at Berklee before returning to Nigeria. She became Afrobeats' leading woman and performed at King Charles III's coronation concert in 2023. From a farm near Benoni to an Oscar: Charlize Theron, South Africa’s first acting Academy Award winner Movies & TV From a farm near Benoni to an Oscar: Charlize Theron, South Africa’s first acting Academy Award winner Charlize Theron grew up on a farm near Benoni, South Africa. After a childhood trauma and a failed ballet career, she moved to Los Angeles and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Monster in 2004, the first South African to win an acting Oscar. She fled war in South Sudan and was scouted at a London fair. Alek Wek changed what a supermodel looks like Celebrity Buzz She fled war in South Sudan and was scouted at a London fair. Alek Wek changed what a supermodel looks like Alek Wek was born in Wau, in what is now South Sudan, and fled civil war to London as a teenager. Scouted at a fair in Crystal Palace in 1995, she became one of the most influential models of the late 1990s and a voice for refugees. A diplomat’s daughter from Mogadishu became one of fashion’s first Black supermodels, then married David Bowie Celebrity Buzz A diplomat’s daughter from Mogadishu became one of fashion’s first Black supermodels, then married David Bowie Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid, born in Mogadishu in 1955, was studying in Nairobi when a photographer persuaded her to model. She became one of the defining models of the 1970s and 1980s, founded Iman Cosmetics for women of colour and was married to David Bowie until his death in 2016. From the sand mines of Batié to knocking down Tyson Fury: Francis Ngannou’s improbable journey Celebrity Buzz From the sand mines of Batié to knocking down Tyson Fury: Francis Ngannou’s improbable journey Francis Ngannou worked in sand mines in Cameroon as a boy, crossed the Sahara and the Mediterranean to reach Europe, and became UFC heavyweight champion in 2021. In 2023 he knocked down Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing match. Ballon d’Or in 1995, president of Liberia in 2018: George Weah’s two careers Celebrity Buzz Ballon d’Or in 1995, president of Liberia in 2018: George Weah’s two careers George Weah, who grew up in a Monrovia slum, became the first African to win the Ballon d'Or in 1995 while playing for AC Milan. After retiring he entered politics, and in 2018 he became president of Liberia. He lost his re-election bid in 2023. Sadio Mané built a hospital and a school in the village where he grew up. Then he won the Africa Cup of Nations Celebrity Buzz Sadio Mané built a hospital and a school in the village where he grew up. Then he won the Africa Cup of Nations Sadio Mané grew up in Bambali, a village in southern Senegal, and ran away to Dakar to chase football. After becoming a star at Liverpool, he funded a hospital, a school and other projects in Bambali, and scored the winning penalty as Senegal won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Ncuti Gatwa’s family fled the Rwandan genocide. He became the first Black actor to lead Doctor Who Movies & TV Ncuti Gatwa’s family fled the Rwandan genocide. He became the first Black actor to lead Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa was born in Rwanda and grew up in Scotland after his family fled the 1994 genocide. He became famous as Eric in Netflix's Sex Education and was cast as the Fifteenth Doctor, the first Black actor to play the lead in Doctor Who. He spent his boyhood in Lagos and played Martin Luther King in Selma: David Oyelowo’s long road Movies & TV He spent his boyhood in Lagos and played Martin Luther King in Selma: David Oyelowo’s long road David Oyelowo, born in Oxford to Nigerian parents and raised partly in Lagos, played Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in 2014. His career has moved from the Royal Shakespeare Company to Hollywood, with roles in A United Kingdom and Queen of Katwe. The son of Ghanaian immigrants trained as an engineer. Virgil Abloh ended up running menswear at Louis Vuitton Celebrity Buzz The son of Ghanaian immigrants trained as an engineer. Virgil Abloh ended up running menswear at Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh, born in Rockford, Illinois, to Ghanaian parents, studied engineering and architecture before building Off-White and becoming artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear in 2018. He died in 2021 at the age of 41.