# The most famous people from the least-noticed countries **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2023, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986 "2023-06-23T09:58:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/61 "2023-06-23T22:59:12Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I doubt most people can name anyone from Mongolia aside from Genghis Khan. But what about [The Hu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hu)? > **[The HU - Yuve Yuve Yu (Official Music Video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4xZUr0BEfE%5C)** > > Official music video for 'Yuve Yuve Yu' by The Hu.Come see us on tour in the US with Asking Alexandria and special guests Bad Wolves and Zero 9:36! Get your ... ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/62 "2023-06-23T23:19:31Z")
[Eric the Eel](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Moussambani) is from Equatorial Guinea. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/63 "2023-06-23T23:20:28Z")
Paul Rusesabagina may be the most famous person from Rwanda. If you don’t immediately recognize the name, he’s the guy Don Cheadle played in _Hotel Rwanda_. Sadly, Idi Amin may be the most famous Ugandan. Likewise, Jean-Bédel [Bokassa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-B%C3%A9del_Bokassa) may be the most famous person from the Central African Republic (or the Central African Empire as he called it). > [@ftg](#): > > U Thant from Myanmar (then Burma) I would say Aung San Suu Kyi is more famous than U Thant. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/64 "2023-06-23T23:25:46Z")
Derek Walcott, a Nobel Literature Prizewinner, was from St. Lucia. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/65 "2023-06-24T01:52:31Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Elon Musk from South Africa As were J. R. R. Tolkien, Charlize Theron, Basil Rathbone, and Trevor Noah. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/66 "2023-06-24T02:14:06Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > > [@dorvann](#): > > > > And i had know idea who Vijay Singh is to you mentioned him. > > He played James Bond’s Indian sidekick in _Octopussy_. I think you’re confusing [Vijay Amritraj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijay_Amritraj), a tennis player, and [Vijay Singh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijay_Singh), a golfer. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/67 "2023-06-24T02:17:59Z")
Bangladesh, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Philippines, South Africa, Austria? It’s beginning to look like Dopers consider most countries in the world to be obscure. Maybe you could share some famous Germans or Pakistanis or Brazilians next. My go-to country for obscurity is Laos. Think: When’s the last time you heard anything from Laos? But now the challenge is to name a famous Laotian. Souvanna Phouma? Prime minister in the '60s and '70s. If you cite Jamaica without naming Bob Marley, you’re dead to me. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/68 "2023-06-24T02:52:48Z")
Nobel prize winning author **Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipau** aka [V.S. Naipaul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._S._Naipaul) was born and raised in Trinidad. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/69 "2023-06-24T02:59:54Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Bangladesh. . .? It’s beginning to look like Dopers consider most countries in the world to be obscure. When was the last time you saw Bangladesh in the news? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/70 "2023-06-24T03:14:42Z")
I think the question in the OP is too vague. Does people mean living ones or any human ever? How famous do you have to be to be included? How little noticed does the country have to be? How long do they have to live in the country? ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/71 "2023-06-24T03:25:04Z")
I too can name people from countries. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/72 "2023-06-24T04:25:33Z")
What about Nadia Comaneci? At least the average Doper should be of an age where she would be remembered well. (And, well, if you remember that, you probably also remember the Ceaușescus, for better or worse.) I had no idea Zamfir was Romanian, though. > As were J. R. R. Tolkien, Charlize Theron, Basil Rathbone, and Trevor Noah. Nelson Mandela, anyone? Desmond Tutu? ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/73 "2023-06-24T13:10:48Z")
I wish to nominate Rihanna. Born and raised in Barbados! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/74 "2023-06-25T17:14:31Z")
There you go. That’s what this thread is looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/75 "2023-06-25T17:27:35Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Pop singer Akon is from Senegal (he was born in the U.S., but spent his early childhood in Senegal where his family origniates) Another famous Senegalese: > **[Youssou N'Dour](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssou_N'Dour)** > > Youssou N'Dour (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}French: \[jusu (ɛ)nduʁ\], Wolof: Yuusu Nduur; also known as Youssou Madjiguène Ndour; born 1 October 1959) is a Senegalese singer, songwriter, musician, composer, occasional actor, businessman, and politician. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, "perhaps the most famous singer ali ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/76 "2023-06-25T17:50:10Z")
West African music and musicians are well known to “world music” fans - how about Ali Farka Touré from Mali? Iceland is mentioned above - it punches well above its weight culturally - Björk, Sigur Ros, Vikingur Olafsson, Olafur Eliasson, thriller writers like Arnaldur Indridason. Since no-one else has mentioned it, there is a game about how many famous Belgians you can name. Leaving politicians aside, there’s Jacques Brel, Georges Simenon, René Magritte (and erm…) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/77 "2023-06-25T17:52:22Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Since no-one else has mentioned it, there is a game about how many famous Belgians you can name. Leaving politicians aside, there’s Jacques Brel, Georges Simenon, René Magritte (and erm…) Eddy Merckx! Kevin de Bruyne. Adamo (ok, a bit obscure nowadays, but big in the 70s). And Hercule Poirot (ok, cheating 😉). ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/78 "2023-06-25T17:59:12Z")
[Django Reinhardt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Django_Reinhardt), the original shredder. 🎸 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/79 "2023-06-25T18:00:17Z")
That’s a good one! ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/80 "2023-06-25T18:01:13Z")
> I doubt most people can name anyone from Mongolia aside from Genghis Khan. While I suspect that’s true, there are many famous sumo wrestlers from the actual current Mongolia, as opposed to the historic version before modern statehood concepts were formalized. The most famous would be Hakuho, who, alongside Don Bradman if we’re talking about people most Americans never heard of, should be part the discussion of the most dominant athlete ever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986.md?page=5)