Across media, public speaking, government, fashion and film, African women continue to build influence in ways that extend beyond their individual professions. This week, Women of the Week celebrates five women whose work reflects visibility, leadership, creativity and the courage to create new spaces for themselves and others.
Peace Hyde – Global Director for Partnerships at Time Africa, Founder of Aim Higher Africa, Creator and Executive Producer of Netflix Original Series YOUNG FAMOUS & AFRICAN
Peace Hyde has established herself as one of Africa’s most influential figures in media, entertainment, journalism and social impact. She is the Founder of Aim Higher Africa, an education focused organisation committed to empowering young Africans, while also serving as Head of Digital Media and Partnership and West African Correspondent at Forbes Africa. Her work at Forbes has placed her at the intersection of business journalism, digital media and African enterprise. She was also selected as one of the inaugural Obama Foundation Africa Leaders in 2018, recognising her work in education and youth empowerment.
Her influence expanded significantly through entertainment as the Creator and Executive Producer of Netflix’s Young, Famous & African, one of the platform’s major African reality franchises. The series brought African personalities, luxury, culture, relationships and contemporary African lifestyles to a global audience. Hyde’s career reflects an ability to move seamlessly between journalism, television production, entrepreneurship and social impact, while consistently placing African stories at the centre of international conversations.
Joyce Daniels – Global MC/Speaker , Public Speaking Coach
Joyce Daniels has built a career around the power of communication, becoming one of Nigeria’s recognised voices in professional event hosting and executive communication. Known as the Queen of Talk, she is a Global Master of Ceremonies, keynote speaker and executive speaking coach with more than 19 years of experience. She has hosted corporate events, government summits, international forums and high profile occasions across sectors including energy, finance, manufacturing, technology and FMCG.
Beyond the stage, Daniels has turned her expertise into a platform for developing other communicators. Through her speaking and training programmes, she coaches executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers and professionals on confidence, clarity, executive presence and effective public communication. She has also trained more than 1,000 event hosts across Africa and says she has trained over 50,000 professionals in speaking and communication. Her journey demonstrates how mastery of communication can become both a career and a tool for empowering others to find their voice.
Hannatu Musawa – Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy
Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa is a lawyer, human rights advocate and Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. She currently leads the Federal Ministry responsible for positioning Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries as important contributors to national development, tourism and economic diversification. The ministry was expanded in 2024 through the merger of the tourism portfolio with the Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, bringing arts, culture, tourism and creative enterprise under one strategic mandate.
Under her leadership, the ministry has pursued initiatives around the Creative Economy Development Fund, data infrastructure, intellectual property, tourism development and greater investment in Nigeria’s creative sectors. Musawa has also championed the Destination 2030 agenda, positioning creativity and culture as economic assets rather than merely expressions of national identity. In 2026, she continued to advocate stronger public private collaboration to develop Nigeria’s tourism ecosystem and turn cultural activity into sustainable economic opportunity.
Margaret Chola – The Accidental Fashion Icon known as legendary glamma
Margaret Chola, popularly known around the world as Legendary Glamma, has become one of Africa’s most unexpected and celebrated fashion personalities. The Zambian grandmother gained international attention through a series of striking fashion photographs created with her granddaughter, New York based stylist Diana Kaumba. What began as a family creative project evolved into a global visual phenomenon that challenged conventional ideas about age, beauty and fashion.
Chola’s distinctive appearances, characterised by bold styling, statement accessories and fearless self expression, have made her a viral fashion icon and an unlikely symbol of intergenerational creativity. Her story has resonated far beyond fashion because it presents ageing not as a limitation but as another stage of identity, confidence and self expression. Through Legendary Glamma, Chola has become part of a wider cultural conversation about representation, individuality and the freedom to reinvent oneself at any age.
Toluwani George – Actor & Model, Co-founder Reel Impact Media
Toluwani George represents a new generation of Nigerian screen talent whose career has grown through curiosity, experimentation and a willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities. A model and actress, George began creating videos during the COVID 19 lockdown before an opportunity to audition for an acting project opened the door to Nollywood. Her transition from modelling into acting eventually led to her breakout role as Eve Adeleke in the Showmax series Wura, a performance that helped establish her as a promising contemporary screen talent.
Since then, George has continued to expand her filmography with appearances in productions including Ms Kanyin, The Benefactor, Love & New Notes and other film and television projects. In 2026, she joined Take One Talents, further strengthening her professional representation as her career develops. Beyond acting, George has expressed interest in exploring other areas of filmmaking, including directing and producing, reflecting a broader ambition to contribute to the creative industry beyond performance.
Why SHE Matters
These women represent different expressions of African influence, but their stories share one powerful thread: the ability to turn talent, visibility and purpose into lasting impact. From global media and communication to government, fashion and film, they continue to expand what African women can create, lead and inspire.
