Chinua Achebe Is The Most Powerful Celebrity In Africa

American publishing and media company Forbes has named Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic, Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe better known as Chinua Achebe as the most influential celebrity in Africa.
Achebe ranks number one out of a list of 40 most influential celebrities which also includes actors, cerebral authors, musicians, movie producers, supermodels, TV personalities and athletes selected from all across the continent of Africa. The second position is occupied by Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, while the third position by Ivorian footballer and Chelsea FC centre forward Didier Drogba.

The 40-man list selection involved picking out individuals with the highest number of votes from a vast nominations entry of 7,500 people. And then their media visibility (which includes exposure in print, television, radio and online), references on Google, TV/radio mentions and other mentions across continent.

A total of 11 Nigerians including Achebe are featured on the list. They include Noble laureate Wole Soyinka (6), Afrobeat maestro Femi Kuti (10), Nollywood star actress Genevieve Nnaji (19), Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie (32), hit producer Don Jazzy (36) and musicians 2face Idibia (34), Psquare (35), D’banj (37), Nneka (38) and Asa (39).

Check out the full list below…

1. Chinua Achebe, 80, Novelist (Nigeria)
2. Youssou N’dour, 51, Musician (Senegal)
3. Didier Drogba, 33, Footballer (Cote D’Voire)
4. Angelique Kidjoe, 51, Musician (Benin Republic)
5. Akon, 38, Musician (Senegal)
6. Wole Soyinka, 77, Playwright (Nigeria)
7. Salif Keita, 62, Musician (Mali)
8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 46, (South African)
9. Oumou Sang, 43, Musician (Mali)
10. Femi Kuti, 49, Musician (Nigerian)
11. Toumani Diabaté, Musician (Mali)
12. Oliver Mtukudzi, 59, Musician (Zimbabwe)
13. Haile Gebrselassie, 38, Athlete (Ethiopia)
14. Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, 51, Musician (Algeria)
15. Samuel Eto’o, 30, Soccer Player (Cameroun)
16. Alek Wek, 34, Supermodel (Sudan)
17. Liya Kebede, 33, Supermodel (Ethopia)
18. Dobet Gnahoré, 29, Musician (Ivory Coast)
19. Genevieve Nnaji, 32, Actress (Nigeria)
20. Koffi Olomidé, 55, Musician (Congo)
21. Neill Blomkamp, 32, Movie Director (South Africa)
22. Souad Massi, 39, Musician (Algeria)
23. Baaba Maal, 58, Musician (Senegalese)
24. Hugh Masekela, 72, Musician (South Africa)
25. K’Naan, 33, Rapper (Somalia)
26. Amadou and Mariam, Musicians (Mali)
27. Awilo Longomba, Musician (Congo)
28. Eric Wainaina, 38, Musician (Kenya)
29. Binyavanga Wainaina, 40, Author (Kenya)
30. Ngugi Wa Thiongo, 73, Author (Kenya)
31. Freshlyground, Musicians (South Africa)
32. Chimamanda Adichie, 34, Writer (Nigeria)
33. Rokia Traoré, 37, Musician (Mali)
34. Tuface Idibia, 36, Musician (Nigeria)
35. P-Square, 29, Musicians (Nigeria)
36. Don Jazzy, 30, Music Producer (Nigeria)
37. D’Banj, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
38. Nneka, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
39. Asa, 29, Musician (Nigeria)
40. Patricia Amira, 33, TV Personality (Kenya)

50 Cent Loses Suit Against Nigerian Author Over Movie Title

A famed Nigerian author won a recent legal battle against 50 Cent to court over the title of his film "Things Fall Apart."

It looks like things are falling apart rather quickly for 50 Cent's upcoming football flick Things Fall Apart. After being sued for $200,000 for unpaid services on the film, the Queens rapper recently lost a major legal battle against famed Nigerian author Chinua Achebe over the movie's title.

According to BroadwayGhana.com, 50 Cent was recently forced to change the name of his upcoming film Things Falls Apart over a copyright dispute involving the title. Upon learning of the film's title, Chinua Achebe, who wrote the iconic 1958 novel of the same name, threatened to sue Fiddy and the film's backers over a violation his celebrated book's copyright.

50 and company attempted settle out of court with the African author's foundation, offering them $1 million to use the title. Ultimately, the Chinua Achebe Foundation refused the offer, and the film's producers persuaded the G-Unit general to change the title to All Things Fall Apart to avoid a more serious legal battle.
"The novel with the said title was initially produced in 1958 (that is 17 years before rapper 50 Cent was born), [is] listed as the mostly read book in modern African literature, and won’t be sold for even $1 billion,” Achebe's legal representatives said.

All Things Fall Apart, which was written by Brian A. Miller and 50 Cent, follows the story of a college football player whose sports career is cut short by cancer. The film was directed by New Jack City maestro Mario Van Peebles and stars Peebles, Ray Liotta and 50 Cent in the lead role.