YouTube on Tuesday announced its expansion efforts to support creators and the creative economy in Africa with $20000 and $50000 respectively through the 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voices creators and artist cohorts.
Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, said in a statement that the initiative from YouTube was a follow-up to a global, multi-year commitment made in 2020.
Okosi said that the grant was intended to uplift and grow Black creators, artists, songwriters, and producers on the platform.
According to him, YouTube is seriously interested in the growth of the creative community in Africa.
He said that for the creators, artists, songwriters and producers that would be joining this third cohort, it would go beyond the initial training to measure success with them over a long-term period.
Okosi also stated that it would ensure that the creators achieved sustained success.
He said that 40 creators from Sub-Saharan Africa would be part of the 135 #YouTubeBlack Voices Creators selected globally that enrolled into the cohort.
He said that among the 23 #YouTubeBlack Voices Artists selected for the programme were African fast-rising musical artists, Gyakie from Ghana, Kamo Mphela from South Africa, Asake from Nigeria and BNXN from Nigeria.
He said,‘’As support from YouTube, grantees will receive $20,000 and $50,000 as seed funding.”
Okosi said that they would receive dedicated partner support for six months and have the opportunity to participate in programmes including bespoke training, workshops and networking programmes spread out across the year.
