List of African Nobel laureates facts for kids

The Nobel Prize is a super important award given out every year since 1901. It celebrates amazing achievements in different areas like Physics (how the world works), Chemistry (what things are made of), Physiology or Medicine (how bodies work and staying healthy), Literature (great books and writing), and Peace (working for a better, more peaceful world). There's also a prize for Economic Sciences that started in 1969. More than 800 people have won Nobel Prizes!

People from Africa have won Nobel Prizes in all five main categories. The very first Black African to win was Albert Luthuli in 1960 for the Peace Prize. The first White African winner was Max Theiler in 1951 for Physiology or Medicine. The most recent African winner was Abdulrazak Gurnah, who won the Literature Prize in 2021.

A very famous winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is Nelson Mandela (1918–2013). He was the first president of South Africa chosen by everyone in a fair election. He worked hard to end a system called apartheid, which was unfair to many people. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with President F.W. de Klerk.

Two African winners, Anwar Sadat from Egypt (in 1978) and F.W. de Klerk from South Africa (in 1993), were leaders of their countries when they won the Nobel Prize. Sadat won his prize with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin because they worked to make peace between their countries. De Klerk won his prize with Nelson Mandela, who later became president.

Amazing African Nobel Prize Winners

Many incredible people from Africa have been honored with Nobel Prizes for their important work. These awards celebrate their contributions to science, literature, and peace.

Pioneers in Science and Medicine

Scientists from Africa have made big discoveries. Max Theiler from South Africa won the Physiology or Medicine Prize in 1951. He helped create a vaccine for yellow fever, a serious disease. Later, Allan M. Cormack, also from South Africa, won the Physiology or Medicine Prize in 1979 for his work on CT scans, which are special X-rays that show detailed pictures inside the body. Aaron Klug from South Africa won the Chemistry Prize in 1982 for studying how tiny parts of living things are built. In 1999, Ahmed Zewail from Egypt won the Chemistry Prize for studying super-fast chemical reactions. Sydney Brenner from South Africa won the Physiology or Medicine Prize in 2002 for his work on how genes control organ development. More recently, Michael Levitt from South Africa won the Chemistry Prize in 2013 for creating computer models to understand chemical reactions.

Great Writers from Africa

African authors have also been celebrated for their powerful stories and ideas. Albert Camus, born in Algeria, won the Literature Prize in 1957. Claude Simon, born in Madagascar, won in 1985. The first Black African to win the Literature Prize was Wole Soyinka from Nigeria in 1986. He is famous for his plays and poems. Naguib Mahfouz from Egypt won in 1988, known for his novels about Egyptian life. Nadine Gordimer from South Africa won in 1991, and she was the first White African woman to win a Nobel Prize. J. M. Coetzee from South Africa won in 2003. Doris Lessing, born in Iran but connected to Zimbabwe, won in 2007. J. M. G. Le Clézio, connected to Mauritius, won in 2008. Finally, Abdulrazak Gurnah from Tanzania won the Literature Prize in 2021 for his stories about refugees and colonialism.

Champions of Peace

Many Africans have won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to make the world a better place. Albert Luthuli from South Africa was the first Black African winner in 1960 for his peaceful fight against apartheid. Anwar El Sadat from Egypt won in 1978 for his peace efforts in the Middle East. Desmond Tutu from South Africa won in 1984 for his work against apartheid. As mentioned, Nelson Mandela and F. W. de Klerk from South Africa shared the prize in 1993 for ending apartheid. Kofi Annan from Ghana won in 2001 for his work with the United Nations. Wangari Maathai from Kenya won in 2004, becoming the first Black African woman to win a Nobel Prize, for her work on environmental protection and women's rights. Mohamed ElBaradei from Egypt won in 2005 for his efforts to prevent nuclear weapons from spreading. In 2011, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, both from Liberia, shared the prize for their work promoting peace and women's rights. The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet won in 2015 for helping Tunisia build a peaceful democracy. Denis Mukwege from the Democratic Republic of the Congo won in 2018 for his work helping women affected by violence. And Abiy Ahmed from Ethiopia won in 2019 for his efforts to achieve peace and cooperation.

Images for kids

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  Max Theiler

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  Albert Camus

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  Albert Luthuli

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  Anwar El Sadat

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  Allan M. Cormack

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  Aaron Klug

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  Desmond Tutu

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  Claude Simon

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  Wole Soyinka

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  Naguib Mahfouz

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  Nadine Gordimer

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  Nelson Mandela

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  F. W. de Klerk

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  Claude Cohen-Tannoudji

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  Ahmed Zewail

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  Kofi Annan

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  Sydney Brenner

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  J. M. Coetzee

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  Wangari Maathai

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  Mohamed ElBaradei

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  Doris Lessing

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  J. M. G. Le Clézio

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  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

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  Leymah Gbowee

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  Serge Haroche

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  Michael Levitt

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  Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet

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  Denis Mukwege

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  Abiy Ahmed

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  Abdulrazak Gurnah