1. Samory Toure (1830-1900): Ruler of the West African Wassoulou Empire, fierce resistance against the French colonialists, employed guerrilla tactics and diplomatic strategies.
2. Yaa Asantewaa (1840-1921): Queen Mother of the Asante Kingdom, led a renowned uprising against British colonial rule in the Gold Coast (Present-day Ghana).
3. Menelik II (1844-1913): Emperor of Ethiopia, successfully defended his country's independence in the Battle of Adwa (1896), preserving Ethiopia's sovereignty.
4. John Chilembwe (1871-1915): Baptist minister and anti-colonial leader in Nyasaland (Present-day Malawi), orchestrated an uprising against the British colonial rule.
5. N'zinga Mbande (c. 1582-1663): Queen of Ndongo and Matamba (Present-day Angola), waged war against the Portuguese and established a strong central African kingdom.
6. Omar Al-Mukhtar (1858-1931): Leader of the Senussi resistance in Libya, fought against Italian colonial forces for decades until his capture and execution.
7. Patrice Lumumba (1925-1961): Congolese politician and independence leader, first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, advocate for African unity and anti-colonialism.
8. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013): Activist, lawyer, and politician in South Africa, symbol of the anti-apartheid movement, later became the country's first Black president.
9. Amilcar Cabral (1924-1973): Leader of PAIGC, fought for the independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, theorist of revolutionary warfare and decolonization.
10. Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972): First president of Ghana, a key figure in the pan-Africanist movement, advocated for African unity and economic independence.
These individuals, among many others, played pivotal roles in resisting colonial rule, inspire and empowering African people to strive for self-determination, sovereignty, and a better future for their nations. Their legacies continue to shape contemporary African thought, politics, and movements for social justice.