26 African YouTube creators joins second year of #YouTubeBlack Voices Fun

YouTube today announced the names of African creators who have been chosen to join a global cohort of 135 from around the world in the company’s flagship #YouTubeBlackVoicesFund initiative.

The fund is primarily interested in investing in Black creators from around the world who are telling new and authentic stories.

While the creators from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa come from a variety of professional, social, and academic backgrounds, one common thread unites them all: a desire to make a difference in their communities and in Africa through relatable and insightful content. As an example:

Kenyan creator Justus Nandwa, who hosts the popular online series Shared Moments with Justus, gives a human face to issues confronting ordinary African men and women by telling inspiring and life-changing stories that encourage his audience to make the most of life.

Fisayo Fosudo, a Nigerian with a background in economics and communication, uses his channel under his own name to analyze trends and developments in the technology space, as well as show his viewers how they can benefit from these trends.

Nozibele Qamngana, a South African self-published author, HIV/AIDS awareness advocate, and award-winning social entrepreneur, is on a mission to demystify and open up conversations about living with HIV through her channel.

Each of the 26 African YouTubers chosen for the #YouTubeBlackVoicesFund Class of 2022 will receive seed funding as well as dedicated support to help them develop their channels. They will also participate in customized and hands-on training, workshops, and networking opportunities.

“We are thrilled to be working with such a talented group of young and talented African creators who understand that content that resonates with their audience is both entertaining and thought-provoking,” says Alex Okosi, MD, YouTube EMEA, Emerging Markets.

“This group of creators is making content that starts important conversations about issues we face in society, which really resonate with their audience. We are inspired by them and hope that the skills they learn from being part of this programme will help them touch more lives than they’d ever imagined,” he adds.

This is the second class of African creators in the #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund, which has now been established as a multi-year commitment aimed at nurturing Black YouTube creators and artists. In its inaugural year in 2021, the program welcomed 133 grantees from Australia, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and the United States, with plans to invest directly in over 500 innovators and artists globally to meet its goal.

The following is Africa’s complete list of the #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Class of 2022 (listed alphabetically by country):