Black History – Then and Now

Writer: by Dr Saër Maty Bâ

Black History Month | Business | Science and technology | Visual Arts | Literature

Business

Madame CJ Walker (1867-1919)

Madame CJ Walker was born Sarah Breedlove to former slaves. In spite of her humble origins she became the first female self-made millionaire by revolutionising hair care and cosmetics for Black women. Walker understood that Black women wanted to look beautiful even though they were measured unfavourably by white standards of beauty. She used her fortune to support political organizations like the National Association of Colored Women. In 1917 the Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company employed 3,000 people and was the largest business in the United States owned by an African American.

Mo Ibrahim 'Nothing, simply nothing, is more important to Africa than good governance' – Mo Ibrahim. © Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Mo Ibrahim (1946- )

Dr Ibrahim is a Sudanese businessman, academic, and expert in global mobile technologies. He was employed by BT as their technical director and was involved in setting up Britain's first mobile network. His company Celtel International was founded in 1998 based on Ibrahim's vision that it was worth investing technology in Africa even though other investors would shy away. Celtel was eventually sold to MTC Kuwait for $3.4bn in 2005. He explains: "Computers are very expensive and they need power, and that can be a problem in Africa. SMS text messaging is replacing e-mail and, more and more, phones are carrying out the functions of the computer."

With his business success and high profile he finances The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which works in (Sub-Saharan) Africa to promote exemplary leadership and good governing.

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