Media entrepreneur, filmmaker, and cultural interviewer Chude Jideonwo has been named among Top Charts Africa’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, in recognition of his enduring impact on media, entertainment, and storytelling across the continent. The annual list spotlights individuals whose work has shaped public conversation, cultural identity, and creative direction in Africa over the past year.
According to Top Charts Africa, Jideonwo’s influence in 2025 was defined by the breadth and depth of his media work. A lawyer-turned-media entrepreneur, he has built a career spanning advertising, television, radio, digital media, and filmmaking. As co-founder of RED | For Africa and founder of Joy, Inc., his platforms have consistently pushed African storytelling forward, with #WithChude emerging as one of the continent’s most-watched interview and talk show formats. In 2025, he also returned to high-profile public speaking after a period away, continuing to shape conversations around culture, identity, and storytelling at major events.
Chude’s inclusion places him alongside other influential figures recognised across music, entertainment, politics, and digital culture on the 2025 list. Artists such as Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid were acknowledged for their global cultural reach, while leaders in governance, innovation, and media were celebrated for shaping discourse beyond their immediate industries. For Chude, the recognition affirms a body of work rooted not in virality, but in intentional storytelling, creating spaces where African lives, emotions, and realities are examined with honesty and care.
