The Portuguese digital magazine BANTUMEN has launched an initiative to spotlight Lusophone Black excellence, highlighting this year the social, cultural, and economic impact of its nominated figures, with the goal of bringing visibility to trajectories often unseen in the media landscape.
The Powerlist features personalities from fields such as science, technology, arts, sports, literature, fashion, health, politics, and social justice, and this year includes entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Celebrating entrepreneurship in our community is about recognizing those who blaze trails where there were only closed doors, providing pathways for others,” the organization stated in a release.
Out of the 100 personalities from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe, standouts include activist Eva Cruzeiro (currently a Socialist Party deputy), rappers Valete and Plutónio, footballer Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain and national team player), actress Cléo Diára (best actress award at Cannes in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section), actor and director Marco Mendonça (Revelation Award at Ageas Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II), and scientist Nuno Maulide (professor of Organic Chemistry in Vienna, Austria).
Singers Nancy Vieira and Karina Gomes, musician Bonga, football coach Nuno Espírito Santo, boxer Octávio Pudivitr, entrepreneur N’Gunu Tiny, anthropologist and writer Michel Alcoforado, sociologist Miguel Barros, and filmmaker Denise Gomes are among the other distinguished figures.
BANTUMEN notes that this year’s edition is marked by diversity, guided by a vision selecting honorees who reflect dynamism, innovation, and tangible contributions to social and economic advancement within the Afro-descendant community in Portugal, PALOP countries, or the diaspora.
Gender parity is praised as “exemplary,” with 52% men and 48% women. Across global activity areas, the list shows a higher number of women in Sciences (86%) and Communication (100%), with total balance in Film, Digital, and Visual Arts, which, according to the organization, demonstrates that “diversity is the strength of Lusophony.”
The initiative aims to bring global visibility to paths that significantly contribute to the cultural, social, and economic progress of their communities. The names of the 100 distinguished personalities can be found at www.powerlist100bantumen.com.
The list was unveiled today at Pátio da Galé in Lisbon during a gala that gathered honorees, artists, academics, and institutional representatives. The ceremony will be broadcast on RTP África on December 20, at 21:30 (Lisbon time).
