Forbes has dropped its latest “100 Most Powerful Women” list, and the media can’t stop buzzing about the inclusion of six African women. Headlines everywhere are hailing this as a “historic moment,” but is it really a sign of progress, or just another PR move? Either way, these women are being paraded as the new faces of global female leadership, even as the world continues to ignore the real issues women face in the workplace,like declining leadership opportunities and rampant online sexism.
Let’s not forget: recent studies from McKinsey and Lean In show that only 54% of companies are even pretending to care about promoting women to leadership roles, down from a supposed 90% just a few years ago. Meanwhile, the United Nations is sounding the alarm about online harassment, but who’s actually listening? Still, the media is quick to celebrate these six African women as if their success erases the daily struggles of millions.
Mary Vilakazi – South Africa
Mary Vilakazi is being hailed as a “trailblazer” in South Africa’s financial sector. The headlines love to mention that she’s the first woman,and the first Black woman,to lead FirstRand Group, the country’s biggest financial-services firm. Sure, her rise from PwC partner to CEO is impressive, but let’s not pretend this one appointment fixes the industry’s diversity problem. The media is quick to credit her with “driving innovation and inclusivity,” but how much has really changed for women in banking?
Judith Suminwa Tuluka – Democratic Republic of Congo
Judith Suminwa Tuluka is making waves as the DRC’s first female Prime Minister. The press can’t get enough of her background with the UNDP and her supposed expertise in public finance. Her appointment is being called a “milestone,” but is it more than just a symbolic gesture? The media loves a good “first,” but what about the actual impact on women’s lives in the DRC?
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah – Namibia
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s rise to Namibia’s presidency is being splashed across headlines as a “landmark achievement.” She’s got the resume,Vice President, foreign affairs, environment,but the coverage is all about her being the “first female president.” The media is quick to praise her “pragmatic and inclusive” approach, but is anyone asking tough questions about real policy changes?
Mpumi Madisa – South Africa
Mpumi Madisa is being celebrated as the first Black woman to run a top-40 company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The press loves to talk about her “shattering glass ceilings” at Bidvest, but the focus is all on her personal story, not on whether her leadership is actually changing the game for other women in corporate South Africa. Is this real progress, or just another headline?
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – Nigeria
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a media darling, with her historic appointment as the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization. The coverage is all about her “impact and influence,” but the real story,how much has actually changed at the WTO for developing economies,gets lost in the hype. Her reappointment is being treated like a global victory, but is it just business as usual?
Mo Abudu – Nigeria
Mo Abudu is being called a “powerhouse” in African media, with her EbonyLife empire and a $50 million Afro Film Fund. The media can’t get enough of her “redefining African storytelling,” but the coverage is all about her celebrity status, not the challenges facing African creatives. Is this really a turning point, or just another feel-good story?
The media frenzy over these six African women on the Forbes list is more about optics than substance. Their achievements are being used to signal progress, but the real issues,systemic barriers, lack of representation, and ongoing sexism,are barely getting a mention. For now, the headlines are celebrating, but the real work is far from over.
