Joseph Leabua Jonathan was the first Prime Minister of independent Lesotho. He was born on October 30, 1914, in Leribe, Basutoland now Lesotho), one of the many great-grandchildren of the polygamous King Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Basuto nation. His parents were Jonathan Ramanemane Molapo and ‘Makatiso … Read MoreJoseph Leabua Jonathan (1914-1987)
Hage Gottfried Geingob, the third democratically elected president and the first prime minister of Namibia, was born on August 3, 1941, in Otjiwarongo, Otjozondjupa Region, Republic of Namibia. He was reared by his mother-figure Ouma Hendrina Thomas Geingob. He began his primary education in the … Read MoreHage Gottfried Geingob
(1941- )
Malawi’s current president, Lazarus Chakwera, was born on April 5, 1955, on the outskirts of Lilongwe to Ernest Person Chakwera and Mallen Mwale. His parents were subsistence farmers. Two of his brothers born before him died in infancy. His father named him Lazarus to express … Read MoreLazarus McCarthy Chakwera
(1995- )
Trevor Noah is a comedian, actor, and political commentator. Noah was born on February 24, 1984, to Robert Noah, who is of Swiss-German ancestry, and Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, who is South African and Xhosa, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Noah grew up in the racially segregated … Read MoreTrevor Noah (1984- )
Venture Capitalist Laurence (Larry) Morse was born July 2, 1951, in Birmingham, Alabama. Little is known about his years in Birmingham but beginning in 1969, he enrolled at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and graduated four years later with a B.A. degree in economics. He … Read MoreLaurence C. Morse (1951- )
Matshidiso Rebecca Natalie Moeti is a medical doctor, public health specialist, and medical administrator from Botswana who has served as regional director of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), based in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, since 2015. She is also the first … Read MoreMatshidiso Moeti (1954- )
The Republic of Botswana’s first president was Seretse Khama. He was born on July 1, 1921, at Serowe in the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland. His grandfather was paramount chief (kgosi) Kigama III. In 1923 his son, Seretse’s father became Kgosi Sekgoma II. Upon Sekgoma’s death … Read MoreSeretse Khama (1921-1980)
Milton Apollo Obote was the first Prime Minister and second President of Uganda. Obote was born in the village of Akoroko in Uganda on December 28, 1925. He was the third of nine children born to his parents who were farmers. Obote was from the … Read MoreMilton Obote (1925-2005)
Graca Simbine Machel is a former freedom fighter, prominent educator, philanthropist, and the only woman in modern times to be first lady of two nations, Mozambique and South Africa. Graca Simbine was born on Oct. 17, 1945 at Incadine, Gaza Province, Mozambique. Her father died … Read MoreGraca Machel (1945- )
