The popular and famous Africans we lost in 2016

2016 has been a year of greatness and losses for Africa. As an African journal, it is our duty to reminisce over the lives lived by well-known and well-liked Africans who passed away in the year.

Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I

The year 2016 started with the loss of a royal, 101-year-old King Olubadan of Ibadan in Nigeria. The late Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I ascended the throne in 2007 at the age of 93 making him the oldest person to have been crowned Olubadan in recent history.

THE KING OLUBADAN OF IBADAN LAND OBA SAMUEL ODULANA ODUGADE D1ST AS PASS ON KEBIESI AS JOINED OUR ACCESSTORS RIP #RC pic.twitter.com/diXYnsfGQM

— RASAQCONTINUITY¹ (rasaqcontinuit1) January 20, 2016

Jean-Marie Doré

The King’s death was follow by the passing of Guinea’s former prime minister Jean-Marie Doré who died in Conakry. > Jean-Marie Doré (1938-2016) Político guineano. Primer Ministro de Guinea (2010). pic.twitter.com/QRci2xMTsW

— Cementerio (@CementerioTW) February 1, 2016

El Hadj Mohamed Diallo

Guinea was once again struck by the death of journalist, El Hadj Mohamed Diallo, who was shot and killed during clashes between rival factions of the West African nation’s main opposition party.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

The continent also grieved the death of Egyptian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who died at the age of 93 in Cairo. He is the first African Secretary-General of the United Nations. > Former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali has died: Venezuelan UN Ambassador tells UN Security Council. pic.twitter.com/tIwqgdXowi

— africanews (@africanews) February 16, 2016

Louise Marie Diop

Africa also lost the widow of Senegalese scholar and Egyptologist Cheikh Anta Diop, Louise Marie Diop, who died in Paris at the age of 90 following a long illness. After the disappearance of the Egyptologist, Louise Marie Diop Maes never wanted to remarry, something she considered an act of treason against her husband.

Louise Marie Diop née MAES, veuve de feu Cheikh Anta Diop, est décédée ce vendredi à Paris à l’âge de 90 ans… pic.twitter.com/TPvRYhuh5U

— CARLOS FALL (@fall_carlos) March 5, 2016

Hassan Al-Turabi

Not too far from Senegal, Sudan’s opposition leader and founder of Popular Congress Party (PCP), Hassan Al-Turabi died at the age of 84 in Khartoum after suffering a heart attack. Turabi is one of the country’s most notable opposition figures who challenged long-serving President Omar al-Bashir and his ruling National Congress Party, a group Turabi was previously aligned with.

Sudanese opposition figure Hassan al-Turabi is dead pic.twitter.com/BkNXrUDc4C

— africanews (@africanews) March 5, 2016

Chief James Ocholi

Nigeria mourned its Minster of State for Labour and Employment, Chief James Ocholi who died in a motor accident along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The accident also claimed the life of his wife, son and an aide. > Special Valedictory Court Session in Honor of Chief James Ocholi,SAN at National Industrial Court pic.twitter.com/IrkH9kLVEL

— Yunus Jnr. |PMB (@yunusxonline) March 16, 2016

Jacques Bihozagara

This followed the death of former Rwandan minister, Jacques Bihozagara , who was jailed in Burundi for spying. His death comes nearly four months after he was arrested. > #Rwanda derniers adieux à feu Amb. #JacquesBihozagara photo/igihe pic.twitter.com/TASAP7bhHV

Malick Sidibe

Mali also sent home honourably, the award-winning photographer Malick Sidibe who is known for his black and white studio portraits that captured the lives of young Malians especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Sidibe is considered a national treasure for his unique studio portraits and candid black-and-white depictions of his homeland. > Mali pays her last respect to famed “black and white” photographer Malick Sidibehttps://t.co/E71MlECGtG pic.twitter.com/4koPqOXsnU

— africanews (@africanews) April 17, 2016

Papa Wemba

Francophone Africa and the continent as a whole woke up in the morning of April 24, 2016 to the death of African music legend Papa Wemba. The 66-year-old Congolese soukous (rumba) musician died after he collapsed on stage during a performance at a music festival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Papa Wemba was once a leader of the stylish and elegant Sapeur society. He has several albums and songs to his name including popular La Vie est Belle (Life is Beautiful), Show Me the Way and Maria Valencia.

#BREAKING: Congolese musician #Papa #Wemba dies on Sunday pic.twitter.com/IWH5PmW8KN

— africanews (@africanews) April 24, 2016

Lucy Kibaki

Kenya’s former first lady Lucy Kibaki also passed away this year while receiving treatment at a hospital in London. The 75-year-old Lucy was known for being vocal and often expressing her dissatisfaction both on private and public issues.

Ex Kenyan Prez Mwai Kibaki, and wife Lucy Kibaki, in South Africa for inauguration of then Prez Mbeki (2004) pic.twitter.com/OIs2NwLraO

— africanews (@africanews) April 26, 2016

Didier Bonaventure Deigna

The Ivorian music band Magic System lost its drummer, 46-year-old Didier Bonaventure Deigna popularly known as Pepito, this year in Ivory Coast. He drowned at the small seaside town of Jacqueville. > Another musician death hits Africa; Magic System drummer #Pepito drowns on Sunday in Ivory Coast pic.twitter.com/k0vvgF9Rwn

— africanews (@africanews) May 3, 2016

Rtd Colonel Jean Baptist Bagaza

Former Burundi president, Rtd Colonel Jean Baptist Bagaza died in Belgium at the age of 70. Bagaza came to power in a coup in 1976 and ruled until he was deposed in 1987.

John Paul Usman

Nigeria also mourned the 23-yr-old youth achiever, John Paul Usman, who drowned at Virginia’s Cascade Falls in the United States during the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a flagship programme of President Obama. > RIP John Paul Usman #YALI2016 pic.twitter.com/dkml86zskd

— |SEA ®™| (@DaGreatSEA) June 26, 2016

Elechi Amadi

The literary world lost renowned Nigerian novelist and poet Elechi Amadi who died at the age of 82. His most famous book is The Concubine which also happens to be his first published novel in 1966. Amadi belonged to the circle of renowned African writers, such as the late Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka among others. The Concubine is widely used as a literature study book in African schools.

Another illustrious Naija son has fallen. May the soul of Elechi Amadi rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/GaxAVFEkqY

— Talk Your Own (@TalkYourOwn) July 1, 2016

Emile Derlin Zinsou

The former president of the then Republic of Dahomey (now Benin), Emile Derlin Zinsou died aged 98. Emile Derlin Zinsou, was president of Dahomey from July 1968 to December 1969. > #Bénin : l’ancien président Emile Derlin-Zinsou, décédé le 28 juillet à l‘âge de 98 ans a été inhumé jeudi https://t.co/hakOCnOK3Z

— Africanews Français (@africanewsfr) August 26, 2016

Ahmed Zewail

Egyptian Nobel laureate, Ahmed Zewail died in the United States aged 70. He was awarded the Nobel prize in Chemistry in 1999. Zewail who served as a science and technology adviser to US president Barack Obama, was accorded a military funeral since he was a recipient of Egypt’s highest honour, the Grand Collar of the Nile.

Funeral of Egyptian Nobel Prize laureate Ahmed Zewail is ongoing in Cairo https://t.co/rDbZzmftIt

— africanews (@africanews) August 7, 2016

Mandoza

South African music star, Mduduzi Tshabalala, also known as Mandoza, died in Johannesburg while undergoing treatment for brain tumor. Mandoza performed his last show on September 10 at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg organised to honour local music content.

R.I.P poi(Mandoza) I saw u for the last time at Orlando stadium pic.twitter.com/AzoYKnQUtp

— Motsepe Terrence (@TerrenceMotsepe) September 18, 2016

Misamu Marie

The Democratic Republic of Congo lost its popular gospel artist, 41-year-old Misamu Marie who died after a heart attack. > Video Gallery, … R.I.P. Marie Misamu https://t.co/WjYubJGuhf pic.twitter.com/Pr4ACnFug1

— NIGHT BEAT JOURNAL (@NightBeatJ) December 9, 2016

Marcel Lubala

Congolese state television journalist Marcel Lubala was shot dead at his home in the central province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is the sixteenth journalist killed in the DRC in ten years. > #RDC: Notre confrère #Marcel_Lubala de la RDCRTNC Mbuji mayi tué mardi par des bandits armés pic.twitter.com/bnhSmq6ngl

Malek Chebel

Popular Algerian philosopher and anthropologist Malek Chebel died in Paris at the age of 63. He has authored specialised books on the Arab world and worked to develop a liberal image on Islam especially on topics like Arabic sexuality. > Popular Algerian philosopher and anthropologist Malek Chebel buriedhttps://t.co/w7tguxTUuv

— africanews (@africanews) November 17, 2016

Ousmane Sow

Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow, considered one of the giants of African art died in Dakar, aged 81. Famed for his monumental sculptors of Nubian wrestlers, he produced a series of striking bronzes of muscular African men. > Famed Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow dead at 81https://t.co/5y2CHThdWH

— africanews (@africanews) December 2, 2016

Ibrahim Abubakar

In the sporting world, the Head of Protocol of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Abubakar, was shot dead at his home in Abuja. He was celebrated by the Federation. > , Ibrahim Abubakar, NFF Head of Protocol, shot dead at home pic.twitter.com/IV1z8t7b3l

— amwaltzinmatilda (@amwaltzinmatild) January 6, 2016

Abel Dhaira

The Nigerian official’s death was followed by the death of former Ugandan goalkeeper Abel Dhaira who passed on after suffering from abdominal cancer in Iceland. He was 28 years old. > We will miss him forever and ever ABEL DHAIRA Uganda crane's legend MUKAMA AKULAMUZE KISA pic.twitter.com/u0iIOrLeW4

— Fashion killer (@fashionkille) April 7, 2016

Patrick Ekeng Ekeng

Cameroon was again struck by the death of football player Patrick Ekeng Ekeng who died after an on-field collapse in a Romania Liga game. The 26-year-old was on the pitch for only seven minutes after coming on in the second-half as a substitute. > #Cameroonian footballer Patrick #Ekeng Ekeng dies while in action for his Romanian side Dinamo Bucharest pic.twitter.com/kguqLG33u4

— africanews (@africanews) May 6, 2016

Jeanine Christelle Djomnang

Another Cameroonian footballer, Jeanine Christelle Djomnang, collapsed and died less than 48 hours after the death of Patrick Ekeng Ekeng of Dinamo Bucharesti in Romania. The female goalie of Femina Stars Ebolowa was announced dead by a statement from the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

#Lamentable Falleció Jeanine Christelle Djomnang, de 26 años, portera camerunesa del Stars de Ebolowa. pic.twitter.com/B3E4kT2BHp

— Ellas en el Deporte (@EllasDeporte) May 12, 2016

Stephen Keshi

Former coach of Nigeria’s national football team, Stephen Keshi died at the age of 54 after suffering a cardiac arrest in Benin City in the southern part of Nigeria. Stephen is one of two African players to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and a coach, in 1994 and 2013 respectively. with the Super Eagles.

He was the first African coach to successfully qualify two African countries, Togo and Nigeria, to the World Cup in Germany (2006) and Brazil (2014) respectively.

Stephen Keshi died of cardiac arrest in Benin City in the southern part of Nigeria https://t.co/zPPORV2pXx pic.twitter.com/Rz7HGzUAQN

— africanews (@africanews) June 8, 2016

Shuaibu Amodu

Three days after the death of Keshi, the technical director of the Nigerian Football Federation, and former coach of the Super Eagles, Shuaibu Amodu, died at the age of 58. Amodu coached the Eagles on four occasions and qualified the country for the 2002 & 2010 World Cups. Amodu became technical director of the Eagles in April 2016.

The technical director of the #NFF, and former coach of the Super Eagles, Shuaibu Amodu, has died at the age of 58 https://t.co/uMjdKVIle5

— africanews (@africanews) June 11, 2016

Gugu Zulu

South African racing driver, Gugu Zulu, died this year while attempting to climb Mount Kilimajaro. Zulu, was taking part in the Trek4Mandela charity challenge, along with his wife and other well-known South Africans when he reportedly experienced problems breathing while on the mountain.

South African rally driver Gugu Zulu dies during Kilimanjaro expedition for charity https://t.co/msOJ5FYn39

— africanews (@africanews) July 19, 2016

Laurent Pokou

At the tail end of the year, Ivorian football legend Laurent Pokou died at the age of 69 in Abidjan. Pokou is remembered as the long-time record holder for the highest number of goals scored by a single player at the African Cup of Nation tournament, a record which was broken 30 years later by Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o.

Ivorian striker Laurent Pokou of staderennais 1974/75 pic.twitter.com/30K0Bal9i9

— DiskiPhotos (photos_diski) November 21, 2016

We cannot forget the unsung heroes and all the Africans who died in the battle against Boko Haram and Al Shabaab in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Somalia among others.

The illustrious Africans who died in peacekeeping operations with the United Nations and African Union Missions cannot be forgotten, as well as all the people who lost their lives in accidents and natural disasters that struck Africa in 2016.