Six Africans that Were Outstanding Enough In The Professions And Careers To Be Awarded The Nobel Prize

Albert Lutuli became the first African Nobel Laureate in 1960, honored in the peace category. Since then about 12 Africans have shared in the same glory. Some for their efforts and struggles in aiding human right causes. Others for their groundbreaking impact on the scientific and literary academic fields
. All listed here are worthy of being celebrated and remembered, for the immense value they have added to mankind, impacting millions of lives and revolutionizing the academia.

6. Wangari Maathai

She received the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first female African Noble Laureate. A Kenyan by nationality, she received the Prize for her contributions to sustainable development of democracy and peace. The Nobel committee also noted her courage in standing up to the oppressive regime that was operational in her country at the time.
Her actions also helped draw attention to political oppression both on the national and international levels. They referred to her as an inspiration to many in the fight for Democratic rights and especially an encouragement to women.

5.  Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu is a world-renowned evangelist and human rights activist well known for the courageous part he played in the dismantling  of the oppressive apartheid system that was operational in South Africa at the time.
His fearless stance against the corrupt system has often been commended by many.
He has been called the voice of voiceless South Africans for his open and courageous criticism of  apartheid. The Nobel committee specially noted his clear views and his fearless stance, characteristics which made him a unifying symbol for all freedom fighters. For these, he was awarded the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize.

4.   Albert Lutuli

He played an important part in  championing for non-violent resistance to the racial discrimination that so ravaged his country South Africa at that time.
He became the first African and the first person from outside Europe and the Americas the be honored with the prestigious Prize.
He had drawn his inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence. He was the spokesperson for a campaign of civil disobedience directed against South Africa's racial segregation. He noted that the Prize was awarded was a recognition of the much that had been sacrificed by many of all races particularly the people of Africa who had endured a lot and suffered for so long. Robert Lutuli died aged 69 in 1967 after he was involved in a fatal accident near his home Stanger, Natal in South Africa.

3.   Wole Soyinka

He was honored with the Nobel Prize in 1986, the first African to receive a Nobel Prize in literature. This was in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the academic field of literature, especially African literature because of which he is today famous in Nigeria, Africa and indeed throughout the world.
His literary classics has well spiced African literature. The Nobel Committee described him as one "who in a wide cultural perspective and with poetic overtones fashions the drama of existence".

2.   Kofi Anan

One of the most recognizable Africans on the international political scene. He was born in Ghana in 1938 and served as the 7th secretary-general of the UN from January 1997 to December 2006. He received the Nobel Prize in 2001 ( jointly with the U.N), for his having revitalized the united nations and having prioritized human rights. And also for his efforts to contain the spreading of HIV in Africa and also his opposition to international terrorism.

1.   Nelson Mandela

Respected and celebrated by all as a symbol of human rights. He is most remembered for his resistance of the apartheid political system that enslaved South Africa at that time.
He was set apart as an object of inspiration for many when he chose to resist peacefully, avoiding violent opposition to the corrupt system. For this he paid a lot. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for high treason and conspiracy against the state in 1962. He was confined to the notorious prison island Robben  for 18 years together with other resistance leaders. He was freed from detention in 1990. For all of this, he was deservedly awarded the Nobel Prize jointly with President Willem de Klerk for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime and for laying the foundations for a new Democratic South Africa. He was elected South Africa's President in 1994, and held the office till 1999 when he retired