Yesterday, Premium Times excited my fellow list lovers and me by publishing a teaser of their 2014 list of Most Influential Africans. I’m certain their overview is more impressive than the illustration that ‘graced’ it and I’m sure we’re not even a three digit countdown away from someone who’ll start philosophizing about artistic freedom or an illustrator’s right to abstractions and interpretations but really… what’s up with this colouring? At least six of them are buckets of white lighter than they truly are.

Clockwise, the drawing shows the following icons:
1. Lupita “My Dreams Are Valid” Nyong’o. If it wasn’t for the dress, this could have depicted Halle Berry.

2. Truth be told… I’m not certain about who the lady next to Nyong’o is supposed to represent. If I didn’t know better I would hope that the illustrator saluted South African singer and composer Sathima Bea Benjamin because her influence and artistry remains ever so relevant but I doubt that my jazz heart will be so lucky. Speaking of luck… this isn’t C.A.R.’s interim president Catherine Samba-Panza, is it?

3. Obiageli Ezekwesili (pic), former member of the Nigerian government  and one of the Nigerian ladies who spearheaded the #BringbackOurGirls campaign

4. This one made me Google all the names in the text but if my Sherlock senses don’t deceive me, this is Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank and Rwandan economist.

5. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (pic).
6. Kelvin Doe a.k.a. DJ Focus, 18 year old engineer and innovator.
7. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

The questions write themselves.