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Is award winning author truly the most influential woman in Africa?

Chimamanda Adichie's profile continues to rise and rise with many saying she is the most influential African woman on the planet today.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Apart from the endorsement and celebratory think pieces, Adichie has also been doing some work on her own. Her feminist manifesto, bashing of , and her love letter to First Lady Michelle Obama made the rounds on the Internet.

Adichie is definitely on her roll. Some might raise an eyebrow that a feminist is selling makeup but Adichie has always stated that she is not against the use of cosmetics but she does not let it define her.

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Clearly, Adichie's influence is an all time high. Her famed novel '' was adapted into a movie,  and Beyonce used parts of her TedX speech on her last album.

Is she the most influential African woman today? Some will say yes and others will say no. Her feminist belief will definitely not endear to a lot of people on the continent who have more conservative and patriarchal beliefs.

For others, they might point as the Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'O as the continent's most influential. The actress shot to stardom in 2013 with her scene-stealing role in the movie '' which led to her winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Nyong'O has grown in stature within these last three years, starring in Star Wars, being name checked by Jay Z, and being chosen to appear in the all black superhero movie ''. Flexing her muscle behind the camera, the Kenyan in 2014 bought the rights to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book, ""

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In Hollywood, Nyong'O is one of Africa's leading lights and the most visible female movie star in the international circle.

Is she bigger than Chimamanda Adichie? Possibly. Moving beyond the literary and movie circles, a case can be made for world renowned economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was recently appointed to the advisory panel of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

This is clearly Chimamanda Adichie's time as she challenges patriarchy in not only Nigeria but in Africa. With her works permeating Western pop culture she is getting more influential by the minute.

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