Across Africa, leadership is becoming a shared journey. Women are rising alongside men, driving influence across business, technology, culture, and philanthropy. Together, power couples are building legacies that extend far beyond individual success.
- Women across Africa are increasingly stepping into leadership roles, shaping the continent’s business, cultural, and philanthropic landscapes.
- Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa have advanced initiatives in AI, education, and philanthropy, representing a collaborative vision for Africa’s future.
- Tony and Awele Elumelu have solidified their influence in economics and healthcare, emphasizing transformative leadership and philanthropic work.
- Couples like Patrice and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe exemplify the synergy of leadership in culture, sports, and philanthropy, enhancing societal contributions.
This year, the spotlight has been on business leaders, dedicated innovators, and the visionary women beside them, each doing as much to build legacies that transcend their own lives, with strategic roles that are shaping the future of the continent.
Here are our top 10 power couples of 2025, in no particular order:
Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa – Zimbabwe
Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa stand as one of Africa’s most enduring and influential partnerships. Married for over three decades after meeting early in their professional journeys, the couple are building a legacy that blends enterprise, public service, and generational impact.
In 2025, Strive deepened his role as a continental technology architect through Cassava Technologies, unveiling a $720 million plan to establish five AI factories across Africa, beginning in South Africa. The move positioned Africa more firmly within the global artificial intelligence economy and reinforced Masiyiwa’s reputation as a long-term builder of digital infrastructure.
Alongside him, Tsitsi Masiyiwa has gently but profoundly shaped Africa’s social and educational landscape.
She was appointed Chancellor of Amref International University in Nairobi (Kenya) and launched RemitHope, a platform connecting diaspora support directly to communities in need across the continent.
Together, the Masiyiwas, with their children increasingly involved, have nurtured the Higherlife Foundation into a beacon of hope, expanding educational opportunities for over 40,000 students each year.
Their shared vision and dedication to service were honoured with the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, a testament to a partnership built on love, purpose, and lasting impact.
Tony and Awele Elumelu – Nigeria
Tony “TOE” Elumelu and Awele Elumelu stand at the apex of Africa’s contemporary power structure. Tony has proven himself not just as a business mogul, but as a statesman of enterprise, serving alongside global leaders and shaping economic discussions across Africa, Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East.
This year, he received the Appeal of Conscience Award in New York, joined the International Monetary Fund Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, and was voted the 2025 LEEX Man of the Year at the Leadership Excellence Awards, a testament to two decades of economic transformation.
Alongside him, Dr. Awele Elumelu has quietly blossomed into a leader whose influence is measured not just in titles, but in impact.
As Chairperson of Transcorp Hotels, she blends corporate responsibility with a deep commitment to health advocacy. In 2025, she completed her seventh international marathon in Sydney, a reflection of her perseverance and discipline, and celebrated her 55th birthday in June, a moment that highlighted her dedication, generosity, and the grace with which she leads both in business and in life.
The Elumelus’ philanthropic reach expanded further, marking their Foundation’s 15th anniversary by selecting 3,000 new entrepreneurs from across all 54 African countries, distributing $15 million in seed capital.
Patrice and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe – South Africa
Patrice Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe remain South Africa’s first Black billionaire couple, reinforcing their influence in sport, culture, and philanthropy.
As CAF President, Motsepe oversaw a historic Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, raising the winner’s prize money by 43 percent to $10 million. He also advanced Harmony Gold’s global footprint, completing a $1.01 billion acquisition of the CSA Copper Mine in Australia, targeting 40 percent of the company’s production from copper by 2035.
Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe has quietly, yet profoundly, shaped Africa’s culture and fashion. In 2025, she was named among the 100 Most Reputable Africans and collaborated with the Met Gala and Vogue on a landmark exhibition celebrating Black dandyism and African style. She also curated the Miss South Africa 2025 events, bringing elegance and purpose to the spotlight.
Her dedication and visionary leadership were further honored with induction into the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame.
Together with Patrice Motsepe, their shared commitment to giving has touched countless lives. Their philanthropy has now surpassed $2 billion, including a $10 million contribution to the CAF African Schools Football Championship in Accra, and collaborations with the Schwab Foundation at the World Economic Forum.
Koos Bekker and Karen Roos – South Africa
Koos Bekker and Karen Roos have nurtured their global hospitality empire with vision and care. In 2025, the Bekker family invested $138 million from Naspers and Prosus shares into hotel development, supporting a portfolio that blends luxury, culture, and innovation.
Their UK estate, The Newt in Somerset, earned a coveted Three Michelin Key rating, while their new beachfront retreat, Blou, opened in Keurboomstrand, and Babylonstoren continued to delight as a premier lifestyle destination.
Beyond business, Koos and Karen’s hearts are firmly committed to giving back, through the Helping Heart Family in Rwanda and the Point Foundation, they have championed education, youth empowerment, and initiatives to alleviate poverty, creating lasting impact across communities.
Oluwatosin and Temi Ajibade – Nigeria
Oluwatosin and Temi Ajibade, easygoing and soft-spoken, embody a new generation of African power couples, where love, creativity, and culture thrive alongside ambition.
Their 2025 wedding, reportedly costing $15 million, was a celebration of both passion and elegance; a three-city, three-country journey across Monaco, Dubai, and Iceland, culminating in a white wedding in Reykjavík, complete with a surprise performance by John Legend.
Beyond the celebrations, their professional lives flourish hand in hand. Mr Eazi expanded emPawa Africa, acquiring African music catalogues and partnering with Google to mentor emerging Nigerian artists. His fintech platform, PawaPay, reached milestones across 18 countries, while their Kigali real estate projects gained recognition for lasting community impact.
Temi, his beloved, shone on the runway at Le Défilé L’Oréal Paris, graced the pages of Vogue Weddings, and starred in the supernatural thriller Ms Kanyin. Together, the Ajibades are a testament to how love, creativity, and ambition can harmoniously shape modern African influence.
Darey and Deola Art Alade – Nigeria
Nigeria’s foremost entertainment couple, Darey and Deola Art Alade, have nurtured a partnership where love and creativity grow side by side.
In September, their shared passion for the arts earned them seats in the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, joining the International Emmy Awards selection process, while Deola also became a member of the Recording Academy’s 2025 New Member Class.
Through their company, Livespot360, they expanded Entertainment Week Lagos into a pan-African platform celebrating music, film, fashion, and digital culture.
Their decade-long dedication to creativity was formally honored when Livespot360 was named Outstanding Creative Solutions Company of the Decade at the 2025 EDGE Awards. Individually, Deola claimed Best Costume Design at the 2025 AMVCAs, while Darey joined the Pitcher Awards Entertainment Jury, blending talent, leadership, and mentorship.
Amid these achievements, Darey and Deola celebrated 18 years of marriage, a testament to how enduring love can fuel shared ambition.
Rashid Abdalla and Lulu Hassan – Kenya
Rashid Abdalla and Lulu Hassan have long been celebrated as Kenya’s leading media couple, their partnership built on shared vision and mutual respect.
In 2025, their dedication to storytelling and media excellence shone brightly: Rashid was honoured as Top Male Journalist at the Africa Golden Awards, Lulu received Top Female Media Personality, and their company, Jiffy Pictures, was named Top Film Production Company, producing beloved shows like Maria, Sultana, and Becky.
Beyond accolades, Lulu was recognised with the Media and Entertainment Impact Award at the Global Industry Awards, while Rashid continued to nurture emerging talent, hosting the sixth Rashid Abdalla Super Cup and mentoring over 50 journalists across Kenya.
In July, they celebrated 16 years of marriage, a testament to a partnership where family and profession intertwine.
Ahmed Helmy and Mona Zaki – Egypt
Ahmed Helmy and Mona Zaki continue to embody a partnership where love, creativity, and influence walk hand in hand. In 2025, Zaki captivated audiences as Umm Kulthum in El Sett, which premiered at the Marrakech International Film Festival to a ten-minute standing ovation, cementing her place as one of Egypt’s most cherished actresses.
Her achievements extended beyond the screen: she received the Enigma Achievement Award in Beverly Hills and expanded her production company, Her Story, nurturing and supporting the next generation of female filmmakers.
Helmy, her devoted partner, earned two lifetime achievement awards in Los Angeles and Malmö, and joined Zaki in a rare on-screen collaboration in El Sett. His enduring connection with audiences was further recognized when he was voted “most popular actor” at the Dear Guest Awards.
Together, they graced high-profile events such as the Joy Awards in Riyadh and the CARBONE Dubai launch,
Dr. James Mwangi and Jane Njuguna – Kenya
Dr. James Mwangi and Jane Njuguna have long exemplified a partnership where purpose and compassion intersect. In 2025, Mwangi’s leadership earned him the Freedom of the City of London, the UNHCR Visionary Award, and recognition as CEO of the Year at the 20th Think Business Banking Awards, while Equity Group reported a remarkable 32% profit increase, with regional subsidiaries contributing 45% of total earnings.
Yet, their greatest achievements extend beyond business. Through the Equity Group Foundation, they nurtured the next generation of African leaders, partnering with UNDP to establish “centers of excellence,” airlifting 128 scholars for global learning opportunities, and collaborating with WorldQuant University to provide free quantitative training.
By mid-2025, their shared vision had touched lives on an extraordinary scale: 60,009 scholarships awarded, 35 million trees planted, and 3.3 million medical consultations facilitated.
Basetsana and Romeo Kumalo – South Africa
For Basetsana and Romeo Kumalo, 2025 unfolded as a year of milestone achievements, both personal and professional.
Celebrating 25 years of marriage, the couple strengthened their bond while expanding the reach of the Romeo & Basetsana Kumalo Family Foundation, bringing hope and support to children orphaned by AIDS across the region.
On the business front, Romeo led one of Africa’s most significant fintech stories, overseeing the $1.4 billion IPO of Optasia through LLH Capital. He built on that momentum by announcing a $200 million AI-focused fund and advancing a new MVNO initiative to improve data access in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Basetsana deepened her influence across business and advocacy, taking a leading role at AWIEF, earning recognition during Women’s Month for her cross-sector leadership, and expanding Basetsana Woman Investment Holdings across fintech, mining, and media.
