Chester breathes life into top Africans list

What do a puppet and an Academy Award-winning actress have in common?

They are among the Most Influential Africans of 2014.

Chester Missing, described as "South Africa's top puppet political analyst" and actress Lupita Nyong'o, of Kenyan descent, who won an Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave , share the accolade with four African heads of state, Zimbabwean media mogul Trevor Ncube, and controversial televangelist TB Joshua of Nigeria.

The list is published by New African, a news magazine. South Africa and Nigeria dominated with 33 and 27 entries. More than 40 women made the list.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Missing was not even aware he had made the list, but was not surprised.

"Of course I'm on the list. I'm South Africa's most powerful puppet. I'm Africa's most powerful puppet ... after Jacob Zuma," the puppet said.

Missing has become embroiled in a Twitter war with singer Steve Hofmeyr, which goes to court tomorrow.

It is the first time a puppet has been cited in court papers.