by Ify Obi
Technology is continuously expanding the threshold of what the word "possibility" means.
A few years ago, the idea of young African adventurers, medical practitioners, makeup artists, musicians, and more, finding a home to share their skills with millions of highly engaged audiences globally may not have been possible. Today, the opposite is the case due to YouTube.
The leading online video community is proudly staking a claim in developing the socio-economic renaissance for Black and African creators. In 2020, the platform created its #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund to amplify Black perspectives and experiences and directly enable Black creators, artists, songwriters and producers to thrive. The benefits of the program included; seed funding for developing their YouTube channels, tailor-made training, dedicated support from a YouTube Partner Manager, and networking sessions.
For its third and final iteration, the #YouTube Black Voices Fund brought together over 100 Black creators from around the world to Nairobi, Kenya, for its 2023 graduation celebration. The 3-day event fostered connections, networking, and collaboration among creators. A part of the event lineup included a visit to the Kenyan President, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto and the Governor of Nairobi, His Excellency Sakaja Johnson, at the Kenyan State House.
“When we announced the $100 million fund to amplify black and African voices and perspectives on our platform, we wanted to create a space where black people can share their own stories, in their own voices, with the world. The fund has, in many ways, created opportunities to amplify, celebrate, and cultivate black artistry for a global audience,” shared Alex Okosi, YouTube’s managing director of emerging markets, EMEA.
In his closing remarks, His Excellency Hon. William Ruto expressed gratitude for Google's continued commitment to fostering the country's technological development. "Apart from #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund, I appreciate with profound gratitude Google's support in enhancing the digital superhighway and creative economy pillar of our transformational agenda. In particular, I am grateful for your support for our plan to provide 25,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots across the country, and the investment of $5 million to enable 90 government institutions like hospitals, courts of law and technical and vocational training institutions to install local area networks, and to connect them to national fibre-optic backbone infrastructure," he said.
On what will come next with YouTube following the success of the Black Voices Fund, Okosi emphasised the dedication to uplifting Black creators, artists, and content through various programmes, initiatives, and platform enhancement. “We’re committed to ensuring that black creators from Africa and around the world find a home on YouTube, and we are investing in strategic partnerships with culturally relevant organisations to ensure that we can reach and assist even more creators and artists.”
