YouTube today has announced the expansion of efforts to support creators and the creative economy in Africa through the 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voices creators and artist cohorts. Now in its third year, the initiative from YouTube is a follow-up to a global, multi-year commitment made in 2020 to uplift and grow Black creators, artists, songwriters, and producers on the platform.
Forty creators from Sub-Saharan Africa will be part of the 135 #YouTubeBlack Voices Creators selected globally who are enrolled into the cohort. Among the 23 #YouTubeBlack Voices Artists selected for the programme are African fast-rising musical artists, Gyakie from Ghana, Kamo Mphela from South Africa, Asake from Nigeria, and BNXN from Nigeria. The cohort will also include Hip Hop producer MashBeatz from South Africa and Nairobi-based producer Ukweli, who will be joining 17 #YouTubeBlack Voices Songwriters and Producers globally.
As support from YouTube, grantees will receive $20,000 and $50,000 as seed funding, 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.
“We are excited about the creators, musical artists and producers from Africa joining others from across the world in the 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund. The initiative is dedicated to equipping up-and-coming Black creators and artists with the resources to succeed on our platform,” says Alex Okosi, MD, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA.
The artists, songwriters, and producers joining the #YouTubeBlack Voices Music Class of 2023 will be required to set goals, develop content strategy, and engage with their fans on YouTube, with the assistance of a YouTube partner manager. There will be networking opportunities with other artists, songwriters, and producers included in the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, and a chance to maximise the impact of their channels as they provide catalogue-development opportunities.
“We are seriously interested in the growth of the creative community in Africa. For the creators, artists, songwriters and producers that will be joining this third cohort, we will go beyond the initial training to measure our success with them over a long-term period, thereby ensuring that they achieve sustained success,” Okosi adds.
Over the next few years, YouTube will be directly investing in more than 500 creators and artists from across the world to support, grow, and fund their channels and content development through the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund.
Below is Africa’s full list of the #YouTubeBlack Voices Creator Class of 2023 (in alphabetical order per country).
| YOUTUBE CHANNEL | CREATOR | COUNTRY |
| RUTHLESS FOCUS | CALEB OREM | Kenya |
| African Real Estate | Martin Kihara | Kenya |
| Agatha Nkirote | Agatha Nkirote | Kenya |
| Suzyshomestead | Susan Muriithi | Kenya |
| Kenyan Entrepreneur | Sebastian Ngida | Kenya |
| Diy with Jojo | Joanne Wanja | Kenya |
| Wongel Zelalem | Wongel Zelalem | Kenya |
| Kane’s Kitchen Affair | Juliet Kane | Kenya |
| ONR | Olive Nkirote | Kenya |
| Kate Kendy | Kate Kendy Wanjiku | Kenya |
| Stylebyreme | Egbor Osereme | Nigeria |
| Femi Olaniyan | Oluwafemi Olaniyan | Nigeria |
| Pot of Flavours | Latifat Kilani | Nigeria |
| Korty eo | Korty EO | Nigeria |
| Denixx Kreatives | Dennis Akpan | Nigeria |
| Louis ihuefo | Louis Ihuefo | Nigeria |
| Bof games | Oluebube Belonwu | Nigeria |
| 234drive | Olatunbosun Gbenga | Nigeria |
| Football Fans Tribe | Tokoni Iderima | Nigeria |
| Chantel Anyanwu | Kelechi Anyanwu | Nigeria |
| IFY’S KITCHEN | Ifeyinwa Mogekwu | Nigeria |
| Kagan | Segun Oladapo-Ogunsanya | Nigeria |
| Izzi Boye | Izzi Boye | Nigeria |
| TAAOOMA’s Cabin | Maryam Apaokagi | Nigeria |
| Foodies And Spice | Gina Ehikodi-Ojo | Nigeria |
| Madam Speaker | Perseverance Maremeni | South Africa |
| Muzi Sambo | Muzikayifani Sambo | South Africa |
| Reggie Mohlabi | Reginald Mohlabi | South Africa |
| Perima’s Kitchen | Solina Naidoo | South Africa |
| Zillewizzy | Matlala Mokgehle | South Africa |
| Tsoanieskits | Tsoanelo Moyo | South Africa |
| Thuli Madlamuka | Thulile Dlamuka | South Africa |
| Moghelingz | Banele Ndaba | South Africa |
| Seithati Letsipa | Seithati Letsipa | South Africa |
| coffeenomilk | Clalissa Magunde | South Africa |
| OhSmallstuff | Oyisa Matebese | South Africa |
| Mzwandile & Siza | Mzwandile and Siza Ndlovu | South Africa |
| Centtwinz TV | Innocent and Millicent, Sadiki and Mashile | South Africa |
| Sinikiwe Kademaunga | Sinikiwe Kademaunga | South Africa |
| Tumi Moliko | Tumelo Moliko | South Africa |