As 2025 draws to a close, the continent reflects on a year marked by deep loss. From political giants and literary legends to trailblazing athletes, scientists, and cultural pioneers, Africa bid farewell to influential figures whose legacies shaped nations and inspired generations. Their deaths left waves of grief and remembrance across the continent’s borders and beyond.

Political leaders who shaped nations

Kenya suffered one of its most significant losses on October 15, when Raila Odinga, a former prime minister and the face of the country’s pro-democracy movement for decades, died in India, where he had been receiving medical treatment. The 80-year-old Odinga was widely regarded as the most consequential opposition figure in Kenya’s post-independence era. He led reform movements, championed multiparty democracy, and influenced constitutional change. His death triggered an outpouring of national and continental mourning, with thousands paying respects at his homes in Nairobi and Bondo.

In Nigeria, former President Muhammadu Buhari died earlier in the year at his home in Daura, Katsina State, after a period of declining health. Buhari, a former military ruler who became a democratically elected president, left behind a complex legacy. He received praise from supporters for anti-corruption efforts and criticism from others who felt he didn't address economic hardship and insecurity aggressively enough.

Namibia’s first president, Sam Nujoma, died on February 8 after a three-week hospitalization. The 95-year-old liberation hero led Namibia from 1990 until 2005. He remained highly respected for steering the nation through its formative years. Messages of condolence flowed from governments across Africa and beyond, underscoring his global stature.

Zambia faced its own turbulence with the passing of former President Edgar Lungu on June 5 in South Africa, where he had collapsed while undergoing medical care. His death sparked legal and political tussles over funeral arrangements, with disagreements between the state and the Lungu family delaying the return of his remains. It was an unprecedented situation that dominated headlines in Zambia and across Africa for weeks.

In Tanzania, the nation said farewell to former Prime Minister and Vice President Cleopa Msuya, whose death in Dar es Salaam earlier in the year closed a chapter on one of the country’s most seasoned technocrats. Msuya was celebrated as a diligent public servant committed to national stability. Political observers said he will be remembered for his steady stewardship of Tanzania’s economic policies in the 1990s.

South Africans mourned the death of former Deputy President David Mabuza, who passed away quietly at his Mpumalanga home following complications reportedly linked to long-term ill health. Mabuza was a dominant figure in provincial politics and a key broker within the ruling African National Congress. He was remembered for both his political influence and his often enigmatic presence within national leadership circles.

Togo's former prime minister, Eugène Koffi Adoboli, died at home after an extended illness. Adoboli was a diplomat and economist by training. He was credited with stabilizing Togo’s post-crisis economic environment during his short but impactful tenure.

Giants of arts and literature

Kenyan novelist and public intellectual Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o influenced generations of scholars and freedom thinkers through his works, including A Grain of Wheat and Decolonising the Mind. He died in the United States after a brief illness, prompting tributes from literary circles worldwide. His lifelong commitment to writing in his native Gikuyu language and promoting African languages cemented his status as one of Africa’s most important writers.

Mali’s respected filmmaker Souleymane Cissé died on February 19 in Bamako at the age of 84. Cissé was the first Black African filmmaker to win a major prize at Cannes. He was celebrated for classics such as Yeelen, which redefined African storytelling on screen. Widely considered the father of modern African cinema, Cissé’s passing marked the end of an era for the continent’s film industry.

Scientific and academic trailblazers

South Africa was shaken by the untimely death of Senamile Masango, a pioneering nuclear scientist and one of the country’s most promising academics. Masango died after a short illness in Durban. She famously broke gender and racial barriers in STEM fields. Her research contributions and advocacy for women in science made her a powerful symbol of progress and possibility.

Sports figures whose talents lit up the continent

Kenya’s athletics community was stunned by the death of Jairus Birech, one of the country’s most exciting talents in the 3,000m steeplechase. Birech, the 2014 African champion and a two-time Diamond League winner, died on September 18 at the age of 32 following a short illness. He was renowned for his fluid stride and fearless racing style, and was widely tipped for a comeback before his sudden passing.