YouTube on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 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.
He said that among the 23 #YouTubeBlack Voices Artists selected for the programme were African fast-rising musical artists, Asake and BNXN from Nigeria, Gyakie from Ghana, Kamo Mphela from South Africa.
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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.
”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,” he said
According to him, 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.
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Okosi that the artists, songwriters, and producers joining the #YouTubeBlack Voices Music Class of 2023 would be required to set goals, develop a content strategy, and engage with their fans on YouTube, with the assistance of a YouTube partner manager.
According to him, there will be networking opportunities with other artists, songwriters, and producers included in the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund.
Okosi said that there would also be a chance to maximise the impact of their channels as they provide catalogue-development opportunities.
He said that over the next few years, YouTube would be directly investing in more than 500 creators and artists from across the world.
“It is to support, grow, and fund their channels and content development through the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund”.