Naeto C – The Learned MC

Even for a country teeming with talented high-flyers, Naeto C is a genuine role model. He is an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed rapper with a masters degree in Energy Economics from Dundee University. Even more remarkable is the fact that Naeto completed his degree after having sold a reputed three million plus copies of his 2008 debut album You Know My P, while also recording his highly anticipated follow-up. Signed to west Africa’s entertainment powerhouse Storm Records, Naeto is one of Africa’s best-known rappers having won Channel O and MTV Africa Music Awards. His sophomore album, Super C Season is scheduled for release early next year and as something as a trendsetter, we hope that 2011 sees Naeto get more involved in fashion – we don’t know about y’all but we think a Naeto C menswear line would be a very big deal indeed.

Yemi Akinyemi – The Star to Dance With

Before this October, Yemi Akinyemi was just your average Czech-Nigerian dancer, choreographer and TV presenter. But thanks to his involvement in Kanye West’s 35-minute mini-film “Runaway”, dude is now a bonafide star. Forget Selita Ebanks’ semi-naked bird woman: it’s Akinyemi’s exquisite choreography for Kanye’s *epic/ridiculously overblown (*delete as appropriate) video that made it worth watching. Performed by members of his very own Prague-based JAD Dance Company, Akinyemi’s breathtaking choreography serves as a potent reminder to TV audiences zoned out on “Dancing with the Stars” that there’s more to expressive movement than out-of-date reality TV stars trying to do the Paso Doble.

Ify Aniebo – The Crusader

Despite the fact that a vaccine for malaria has eluded the world’s scientists for decades – or perhaps because of it – Ify Aniebo is determined to find one. Being a disease which kills more people than AIDS every year, it’s no small task for a 26-year-old PhD student, but it’s one that Aniebo is determined to pull off. Following a BSc in Medical Genetics from Queen Mary’s University in London, this Lagos-state native studied for an MSc in Applied Biomolecular Technology at Nottingham University before pursuing a PhD student at Oxford on a fully funded scholarship from the Wellcome Trust, the Tropical Network Fund and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Somehow she has still found the time to launch Africanhealthmagazine.com, an achievement which didn’t go unnoticed by the organisers of The Future Awards, who voted her Nigeria’s Young Person of the Year 2010.

Michael Emenalo – The Coach

News of Michael Emenalo’s appointment as assistant first team coach at Chelsea Football Club was met with two distinct reactions: jubilation from fans of African football and total bemusement from pretty much everyone else. “Who the hell is Michael Emenalo?” asked the blogosphere. “He used to coach an under-12′s girls’ soccer team in America,” was one recurring answer. He was also Chelsea’s chief talent scout for three years, and now he’s the number two coach, so get over it, haters. The fact that he has limited coaching experience is irrelevant. He’s a former Nigerian international who has played in the UK, the US, Belgium and Israel to name a few. He also has a degree in international relations with political science from Boston University, which is surely more useful than a coaching qualification when dealing with the legendary cross-cultural, multi-national politicking of Chelsea Football Club. And in a sport where there so few African footballers manage to make the transition from players to coaches or managers, Emenalo’s appointment is a huge leap forward. Let’s hope it is the first of many.

Mo’Cheddah – The fashioniStar

Hits? Check. Swagger? Check. The enthusiastic endorsement of MTV Base Africa? Check. With her popular debut album “Franchise Celebrity”, Nigerian singer-rapper-fashionista Mo’Cheddah has certainly made her name in 2010, but 2011 will prove whether she has what it takes to go all the way. The forecast looks promising: her songs, produced by Knighthouse, are hella catchy – indeed “Ko Ma Roll” is a certified club banger. And AfriPOP would personally like to nominate Mo’s stylist for an African fashion gold medal as Ms Cheddah rarely puts an Ankara-draped foot wrong. Okay, so her rapping skills won’t be giving Jay-Z any sleepless nights, but she certainly gets hip-hop brownie points for the Big Daddy Kane-style slashed eyebrows. She’s already been nominated for a bag of awards but we suspect that 2011 will be the year that 20-year-old Modupe-Oreoluwa Oyeyemi Ola gets to take some home.

Bez – The New-age Soul Crooner

We’re not quite sure what it is about the Nigerian city of Jos but it produces a disproportionate number of musicians: from big international and local stars like P-Square, MI and Jeremiah Gyang to up-and-coming names like British-Nigerian soul singer Sewuese. And add singer-songwriter Bez to that list, while you’re at it. You won’t see him surrounded by gyrating kokolettes or riffing over synth loops anytime soon but for lovers of good music, he’s part of a dynamic new wave of Nigerian artists (Lami Philips, Siji, and the criminally underrated Dipo) determined to bring soul back to African pop. Touted as the Nigerian John Legend, this guitar-strumming sweet boy serves up a heady brew of alternative soul, poetic lyrics and retro fashion. And he rolls with Cobhams Asuquo and Asa (see 10 Nigerian Music Makers to Watch) so you know his game is tight.

Tolulope Sangosanya – The Philanthropist

Given the socio-economic set-up in Africa, philanthropy is something that touches most people’s lives, whether they are helping an orphaned cousin through school or staying with their better-off aunty in the city. However, when a young graduate decides to do something about an issue that most people would palm off as decidedly NMP, it deserves special recognition. Tolulope Sangosanya is the founder and chief project co-ordinator of LOTS Charity Foundation which works with children living in an informal settlement on a rubbish dump in Lagos known as “Dustbin Estate”. As well as providing literacy classes and organising day trips for the kids, Sangosanya is working towards building a permanent resource centre to equip these children for a greater future. The project is currently supported by a combination of private donations and Sangosanya’s own entrepreneurial efforts but inadequate funding is still a major obstacle: perhaps you could do your bit by helping Sangosanya do hers? For more information you can contact Tolulope at projectlots@yahoo.com (thanks to BellaNaija.com for the heads up).

Amara Nwankpa – The Social Media Activist

Frustrated by his country’s epileptic power supply, and tired of being mocked by his Ghanaian friends, Abuja-based ICT consultant Amara Nwankpa joined forces with other media-savvy Nigerians to set up Light Up Nigeria. It’s  an online protest group advocating an urgent resolution to Nigeria’s chronic electricity problem – a situation now so bad that Nigeria was recently reported to have signed an agreement with neighbouring Cameroon to help provide the “giant of Africa” with electricity. Light Up Nigeria is now a worldwide, online phenomenon with tens of thousands of supporters on Twitter and Face book who are helping to keep the issue of power supply at the top of the political agenda. We’re sure they have more than a few ideas for subsequent crusades once the target of 300 Watts per Capita by 2015 is achieved, but perhaps we could make a suggestion? Wrap It Up Nollywood: a campaign to tackle the excessive running time of Nigerian movies.

Adam Sada – The Online Fashion Entrepreneur

Ever wanted to walk around with a t-shirt advertising your favourite national catchphrase (like “Na Wa O!!”) or even national dish (Pounded Yam and Egusi)? Then visit fully-charged.co.uk immediately. Set up by business analyst turned online fashion entrepreneur Adam Sada, the Fully Charged brand offers an extensive range of t-shirts celebrating countries from all over the world. Unlike most national t-shirts, the designs aren’t corny, gaudy or even remotely jingoistic. They’re beautifully designed,  environmentally-friendly (screen printed and made from top quality 100% organic cotton) and inclusive with nary a national flag in sight. Everyone from Algeria to Serbia is covered, and they’re unisex too. With the 2012 Olympics coming up they might just be the must-have accessory of the games, so get yours now.

Adora Oleh – The TV presenter

From presenting The Magazine Show on African entertainment station BEN TV to her most recent gig co-hosting MTN’s Project Fame West Africa, Adora Oleh has always been a class act. In Nigeria she is best known for her eponymous entertainment programme on Soundcity TV, The Adora Oleh Show, which mixes celebrity interviews with music, fashion and inspirational stories from young entrepreneurs. But the London-trained lawyer first made her name in the UK with stints on The Big Breakfast, Topshop TV and MTV Base and Ben TV. As a presenter, she brings poise and intelligenc to everything she does. Alongside her younger sister Chika she runs ChiAd Productions which is putting together another series of The Adora Oleh Show for the new year as well as number of other projects and events.