YouTube has released the full list of Africa’s most creative YouTube content creators for the #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Class of 2022. The class features a diverse group of creators who (while they have varying professional, social and academic backgrounds) are bound by one common desire: to make a difference in their respective communities and Africa through insightful, relatable, and impactful content and are creators from 26 channels in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa will be representing the continent among a cohort of 133 other creators from around the world.
“We are excited to be working with an outstanding group of young and talented African creators who understand that content that resonates with their audience is both entertaining and thought-provoking,” said Alex Okosi, MD, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA.
They will receive dedicated partner support from YouTube, seed funding to further develop their channels, and access to programming which will help the creators build thriving channels and careers, thanks to the YouTube Black Voices Fund, Google’s global, multi-year commitment to uplift and grow Black creators and artist.
Among them is Kenya’s former Capital FM presenter, Miss Mandi, who has been trending after her former colleague accused of her bullying many years ago. Mandi is an advocate of the food stories. She believes that food is a way to tell a story, and has harnessed her passion for cooking into a platform to showcase the stories of individuals from all around the world.
Also, Kenya’s Shared Moments with Justus, a channel from Justus Nandwa, a digital media content creator was selected for the funding. He uses media to emphasize the costs and benefits of policies by putting a human face on issues that appear abstract, or immensely overwhelming and out-of-reach from afar. Justus inculcates his skill set in advocating for equity, equality, and democracy in all spheres of life by calling out policymakers to order, through his visual journalism.
“With this in mind, we are investing with intention and for impact. In so doing, it’s our ultimate wish that African creators on YouTube will add a fresh new current to the global wave of pan-African identity, talent, intellect, and thought leadership and continue to tell the triumphant story of our Motherland,” Google Africa said in a blog post.