Nigerian blogger and contributor to the recently released list of 40 Most Powerful Celebrities In Africa, Mfonobong Nsehe, has reacted to questions and criticisms as to why a Ghanaian did not make the list. In September this year, Forbes online put out a request for people to nominate personalities who they deemed fit for a list of 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in contemporary Africa. The site said it received over 7,500 entries and after sifting through those nominations, it came out with the top 40 which had 80-year-old Nigerian novelist, Chinua Achebe as the continent’s most powerful celebrity. Other celebrities that made the list includes, Senegalese musician, Youssou N’dour, Ivorian soccer star, Didier Drogba, Beninese musician, Angelique Kidjo, Senegalese musician, Akon, Wole Soyinka, Nigerian playwright, Malian musician, Salif Keita, South African musician, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Cameroonian Soccer star, Samuel Eto’o. Many Ghanaians have rubbished the list, arguing it was not properly compiled. Mfonobong Nsehe, reacting to the assertion quizzed, “In your opinion, who are the most popular and influential people in Africa’s entertainment landscape? Who are the celebrities whose talents, actions and ideas excite, inspire, and uplift you the most?” According to him, he called on the public to vote for their favorite stars by sending their nominations adding those nominations he announced “will be sifted, and the celebrities with the highest votes will be the focus of a rigorous research process, from where we’ll come up with an authoritative list.” Considering the method used, “if any Ghanaian celebrities’ name was not submitted by a fan which I think that is what happened, none would have been considered. I am not sure how many Ghanaians read Forbes and therefore came across this article of invitation,” he concluded.