Chefs, Vixens, and Models, Oh My! 8 Celebs Who Hail From The Horn of Africa

June 21st, 2012 - By Marissa Ellis

We showed you the Nigerians, the Jamaicans, The Canadians, The Black Brits and now it’s time for those from the Horn of Africa to shine. For those of you who don’t know, the Horn is comprised of East African countries like Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. And although they belong to the same region, these countries (like those in the rest of Africa) boast a myriad of languages, customs, and histories.

Unless you live in Washington DC or Minneapolis, you may not be familiar with many people from the region but best believe, they do represent stateside despite the fact that they don’t have a heavy presence in Hollywood. And although they don’t hail Haile Sellasie, these following 7 celebs are all working the entertainment circuit as models, chefs, musicians and even video vixens.  You may be suprised by a few…

 

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Liya Kebede

Representing: Ethiopia

Even if you don’t know her name, you surely have seen Liya Kebede’s face and body behind some of the most lucrative fashion and beauty brands of our time. Open any magazine and you’ll see the Ethiopian-born beauty modeling H&M, J.Crew, and Estee Lauder (as its official spokeswoman). But like many of her supermodel colleagues, the mother of two hasn’t stopped at just modeling. She also has an Ethiopian-inspired fashion line, has delved into acting, and launched her own philanthropic organization to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality.

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  • word

    100% of this list highlighted the short coming with the entirety of our identity

  • monitorette

    You have forgotten the gorgeous Somali model Ubah Hassan.

  • Just Me

    How can you leave out Waris Dirie? and Yasmine Warsame?

  • yaba!

    The title of this article is misleading, yall should have said hailing from east Africa, everyone you had on here was somalian and ethopian….Africa is a large continent NOT country, you missing so many famous people from North, West, Central and Southern Africa!!!!!!

    • Errrmm

      The title says from The Horn of Africa. Not Africa.

  • shary92

    The title of this article is wrong, it should be either East Africa or The Horn of Africa, Somalia IS the Horn of Africa, finally Madame Noire has finally considered the East Africans..about time.

  • yasmin elmi

    im somalien people from the “horn of africa” do not get along people ex: eritreans do not get along with ethiopians and somali people just hate everbody real talk

    • monitorette

      maybe Somalians do not like Ethipians because the Ethipian army is invading their country since years with the tacit agreement of the West

  • Anon

    I’m Nigerian, but happy to see my other African brothers and sisters doing it.

  • lamia_ki

    I love their passion…if it weren’t for the bloody politics, the HOA could have been heaven on earth (beautiful land, proud history, and beautiful ppl)…sign, better says to come!

  • TanTan 78

    Does anyone remember Midi, Maxi, and Efti? They sang “Bad Boys.” The song was really popular in some mid-90′s film that I cannot remember, and a lot of people thought it was a hit. I know they are not current, and I’m showing my age, but they, too are from Eritrea.

  • universal

    that lola monroe is such a beauty queen……..so so beautiful. there’s really something special about those ethiopian girls, but i wonder about her music career tho, hopefully she can make some good things happen……….

  • tj

    Let me just clarify that Washington, DC has an extremely large population of Ethiopians, Somalians, Eritreans, and other Africans. Especially around our surrounding area of Maryland, Virginia may have a large population also.

    • IfUDontCareWhyYouReadingMe

      so true

    • tickytock

      Exactly & being that I am from the Washington DC Metropolitan area I am very offended by the writer of this article suggesting otherwise. Madamenoire get it together please. Do your homework before you allow such things to be written about the District of Columbia.

    • awet

      I am Habesha and alot of East/West Africans live in the DMV and Minneapolis. There is nothing to correct, writer is saying the same thing you are!

  • africasfinest

    u forgot que from day 26! lol

    • IfUDontCareWhyYouReadingMe

      what is he?

  • TRUTH IS

    J. Holiday is hott

    • nisha136988

      Agree 100%

  • anonymous

    It’s fun to see article of people from the horn of africa! I was specially surprice that you guys mentioned Marcus Samuelsson as one of those people it made me feel proud to say that I’m from east africa but also born and raised in Sweden, great job madame noire! :)

  • Lily

    Good to see them being successful.