20 Most Influential African Actresses On Instagram for 2020

Social media mostly Instagram has made fans and celebrities to bond better. Also, Influential African actresses are now easily accessible. Recently, you can rate the impact and love a celebrity get from their fans through the number of followers and the average engagement they get per post. Celebrities with a strong fan base tend to have more followers and also a more engaging page. Numbers don’t lie—do they?

It is not surprising that most celebrities give in their best to see their numbers grow. Interestingly, we have a growing number of Influential African actresses on Instagram. Today, we move the spotlight to the top 20 African actresses with the strongest fan base on Instagram. Which of the actresses is your favorite?

#1. Funke Akindele Bello

Akindele Bello Olufunke is famous with the moniker ‘Jenifa‘ from the TV drama series ‘Jenifa’s Diary’. The Nigerian-based star is both an actress and a producer. In the year 2008, the drama series ‘Jenifa’s Diary’ was nominated for four awards by Africa Movie Academy Awards. Eventually, she won one of the positions. All through her acting career, she has won over 14 awards. With about 11.8 million followers on Instagram, one could say she’s really good at what she does.

#2. Ini Edo

This Nigerian actress was born on 23 April 1982. One of her first movies was ‘Thick Madam’ in 2003. The following year, she starred in the movie ‘World Apart’ which burst her fame. She has appeared in about 100 movies with ‘Citation’ as the latest of them all. She has been nominated for eighteen awards and won eight of them. Besides her achievement in the film industry, she has endorsements from different brands such as Noble Hair, Glo, slim tea among others. Also, she once had a political appointment. She has about 10.4 million followers on Instagram. Definitely one of the most versatile and influential African actresses on Instagram

#3. Mercy Johnson

Mercy Johnson Okojie was born on the 28 of August 1984. Her first appearance in the film industry was in 2004, one of her first movies was ‘The Maid’. Some of her notable movies include ‘30 Days in Atlanta’, ‘Weeping soul’, and ‘Dumebi’. She has acted in over 100 movies, nominated for 20, and won six. She’s happily married with four kids. At 9.1 million followers on Instagram, you can bet there is something hot about her.

#4. Lupita Amondi Nyong’o

The 37 years old Kenyan studied film and theater studies at Hampshire College, in the United States. She started her acting career in the year 2008. Some of her early movies include, ‘East River’ and ‘Eclipse’. The movie ’12 Years a Slave’ made her popular. Her role in the movie ‘Black Panther’ in the year 2018, is one of her greatest to date. Aside from acting, she’s also a writer and a women’s rights activist. She has been nominated for over a hundred and fifty awards and won about sixty of them all. She has about 9 million followers on Instagram. However, she is one of the Influential African actresses whose number is bound to grow rapidly soon.

#5. Mercy Aigbe

Mercy is a 42 years Nigeria based multi-talented actress. She studied Theater Arts at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, in the year 2001. Aside from acting, Mercy is also a model, filmmaker, producer, businesswoman, and director. Some of her early movies include, ‘Satanic’, ‘Afefe Ife’, and ‘Okanju’. Her role in the movie ‘Ara’ in 2006, took her acting career to the next level. She has won about six awards and still counting. Her outstanding performance in the movie industry has won her 8.9 million fans on Instagram.

#6. Regina Daniel

Some people argue that her fame is more from her controversial lifestyle than from her acting prowess. Nevertheless, the actress and film producer was born on the 10th of October 2000. She made her first TV appearance in the year 2007. Some of her first movies include ‘Marriage of Sorrow’, ‘Miracle Child’ among others. Regina Daniel is happily married to a Nigerian billionaire and has 8.8 million followers on Instagram. Interestingly, even though Regina is one of the most influential African actresses on Instagram, she doesn’t have a single award to her name. Weird right?

#7. Jackie Appiah

The 36 old Ghanaian actress has been in the movie industry since 2001. Consequently, she has featured in over 20 movies, some of her earliest movies includes ‘Things We Do For Love’, ‘Tentacle’s, ‘Games People Play’, ’Sun-city’ etc. Jackie has over 20 award nominations and has won 13. She controls over 8.1 million followers on Instagram.

#8. Genevieve Nnaji

Famous for her ‘Lion Heart’ directorial debut, Genevieve Nnaji was born on the 3 of May 1979. She’s not just an actor but also a director and producer. She started her acting career at the age of 8 with the soap opera ‘Ripples’. Some of her early movies include ‘Most Wanted’, ‘Last Party’, ‘Mark of the Beast’, and ‘Ijele’. In 2011, she was honored as a Member of the Order of the Federation Republic Nigeria, for her enormous support for the growth of Nollywood. She has over 25 award nominations and has won 15. With over 8 million followers on Instagram, she is definitely one of the most influential African actresses.

#9. Wema Sepetu

The 30 years Tanzanian former pageant queen started her acting career in the year 2007 with ‘A Point of no Return’ as her first movie. However, the movie ‘White Maria’ brought her to the limelight. Through her career as an actor, she has appeared in over 20 movies, some of which include, ‘Family Tear’, ‘Red Valentine’, ‘Superstar’, ‘Basilisa’, ‘It Was not Me’, ‘Madam’, etc. She has been nominated for 12 awards and has won 6. She has a whopping 8 million followers on Instagram. Definitely one of the influential African actresses on Instagram you should be following.

#10. Rita Dominic

Rita was born in the year 1975 in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria. She started her acting career in the year 1998. Since then, she has featured in over 100 movies. Some of her earliest movies include, ‘A Time to Kill’, ‘Children of Terror’, ‘Face of a Liar’, ‘Prisoner of Love’, ‘My Guy’, ‘Aba Riot’, ‘Unforgettable’, ‘To Love a Theif’, etc. The movie A Time to Kill brought her to the limelight. Throughout her career, she has been nominated for about 27 awards and has won over 10. On Instagram, she has 6.8 million followers. When not on set, she is lending her voice to a non-profit, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), to stop gender-based violence.

#11. Yvonne Nelson

Yvonne Nelson just had her 37th birthday on November 12. She’s a Ghanaian actress, producer, model, businesswoman, and more. She started her acting career in the year 2000. Some of her earliest movies include, ‘House of Gold’, ‘Any other Monday’, ‘Swing’, etc. She has over 20 nominations and has brought 10 home. With 6.7 million followers, she is one of the Influential African actresses on Instagram.

#12. Charlize Theron

The 54 years old actress and producer is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. She is one of the hottest female action stars after Cynthia Rothrock. She has myriads of awards to her name including the Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Also, she has been named by Times Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Some of her blockbusters include ‘The Devil’s Advocate’, ‘Mighty Joe Young’ and ‘The Cider House Rules’. She has 6.3 million followers on Instagram.

#13. Toyin Abraham

Toyin Abraham, a renowned actress, filmmaker, and director, was born in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria in the year 1990. She was inspired to join the movie industry in 2003 when Bukky Wright visited Ibadan to shoot a movie. Toyin has appeared in so many movies, some of which include, ‘Hakkude’, ’Elevator Baby’, ‘Bling Lagosians’, among others. Her outstanding roles in movies have brought her two awards and two nominations. Some of her most recent movies include, ‘Dear Affy’ and ‘Small chops’. With over 5.8 million followers on Instagram, she’s sure one of the most influential African actresses on Instagram.

# 14. Elizabeth Michael

The multi-talented 26-year-old actress and movie producer is popular as Lulu. This is a moniker she acquired from her earliest TV show. She was born in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. However, she started her career in the film industry with the TV series ‘Zizimo’. Subsequently, she has featured in over 20 movies. She has been nominated for six awards and has won 4. With over 5.3 million followers, she is one of the most influential African actresses on Instagram.

#15.  Chioma AKpotha

The 40-year-old Nigerian actress and filmmaker started her career in the movie industry with the movie ‘The Apple’ in the year 2000. Subsequently, she has featured in over 40 movies some of which include ‘Sins of the Flesh’, ‘Harpic’, ‘On Bended knees’, etc. Chioma has won 2 awards with over 20 nominations. She has about 5 million fans on Instagram. Are you one of them?

#16. Irene Pancras Uwoya

Irene is an entrepreneur and producer. She was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1988. However, she started her career as an actor in the year 2007. To date, she has featured in over 20 movies, some of which include, ‘Tanzanite’, ‘Oprah’, ‘Yolanda’, ‘Shakira’, among others. Her role in the movie Oprah brought her to fame. She has about 4.9 million followers on Instagram.

#17. Uche Jombo

Like old wine, Jombo never goes out of taste. The stunning Nigerian actress, film producer, and director started her career as an actress in the year 1999 with the movie ‘Visa to Hell’. Subsequently, she has featured in over 50 movies. Some of her blockbusters are ‘Games Men Play’, ‘Lies Men Tell’, etc. Throughout her career, she has won over 10 awards. On Instagram, she controls about 3.9 million followers.

#18. Adesuwa Etomi

Adesuwa is an outstanding actress and a producer. She started her acting career in the year 2013 with the short movie ‘The Call’. Her role in the movie ‘Knocking on Heavens Door’ in the year 2014 brought her to fame. Consequently, she has acted in over 20 movies including ‘Brave’, ‘Falling’, ‘Date Night’, ‘Muna’, ‘King of Boys’, ‘Wedding Party’ among others. She has been nominated about 18 times and has won 5 of them. She has 3.8 million followers on Instagram. With her love for action roles, she may become the next Charlize Theron.

#19. Ruth Kadiri

The 32-year-old Nigerian actress, producer, and scriptwriter was born in Benin City, Edo State. Her first movie appearance was ‘Boys Cot’. Other earliest appearances include, ‘In Your Arm’, ‘Black Bride’, ‘We Cheat More’ among others. Ruth has 8 award nominations and has won about two. She has 3.8 million followers on Instagram. Ruth is very vocal against the social ills in Nigeria including the #EndSARS massacre. This is one of the reasons why she is one of the Influential African actresses you should be following.

#20. Sithembile Xola Pearl Thusi

Pearl Thusi was born on the 13 May 1988 in Kwazulu- Natal, South Africa. She’s a renowned actress, model, television host, and also a radio presenter, with a strong fan base of about 3.7 million followers on Instagram. Her career began in 2009 with the comedy-drama series ‘The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency’. She interpreted her role as Patricia Kopong well. Consequently, it landed her more lead roles including the recent ‘Queen Sono’ (Netflix’s first Africa original). Her philanthropic side remains less obvious to many.

Conclusion

It appears as if Nigerian actresses are dominating the scheme right? Well, Nollywood is one of the largest movie industries in the world. Nevertheless, when it comes to loyalty, Africans rarely look at your country of origin. The love is always enough to go round. We believe that some of these actresses may someday win the Oscars. Hopefully, their humble beginning thus far inspires the younger generations. By the way, which of the actresses is your favorite? Can you name three of her movies without pausing to think? Use the comment box below.