Meet the African #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Class of 2021

On Tuesday, YouTube  unveiled the #YouTubeBlack Voices creator grantees from Africa.

Kaluhi’s Kitchen, Mitchelle Adagala, Mumo and Patricia Kihoro are among the 20 grantees selected across from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.

They are part of 132 creators from across the world who are participating in the Class of 2021. This is the first round of investments YouTube is making in creators and artists from the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund. Over the next few years, it will directly invest in 500+ creators and artists from across the world to support, grow and fund the creators’ channels and content development.

“In the coming months, we will work closely with the Class of 2021 to grow the creator’s channels.

This will include dedicated partner support through our team of growth specialists, seed funding invested into the development of their channels, and participation in an intensive, 3-week incubator program, followed by ongoing bespoke training, workshops, and networking programs,” says Alex Okosi, MD, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA.

YouTube is committed to amplifying Black voices and providing a platform where Black African creators can have a spotlight and continue to centre both their voices and perspectives.

As part of that mission, it has developed the #YouTubeBlack Voices grant program, an initiative dedicated to investing in Black creators and artists, and equipping them with the resources to succeed on the YouTube platform.

This grant program is part of YouTube’s larger #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, a global, multi-year commitment to grow Black creators and artists on YouTube.

In 2016, YouTube brought together some of the largest and most-influential Black creators on YouTube for their first-ever YouTube Black Summit. That moment was the start of a movement, both on and off the YouTube platform that birthed the #YouTubeBlack community

Over the years, YouTube continues to partner and build specific programming for the #YouTubeBlack community - summits, workshops and events like #YouTube Black FanFest.

“The #YouTubeBlack community is filled with so many passionate, talented, brilliant, and driven creatives. We’re honoured to give these awesome creators additional resources to match their drive,” added Alex Okosi.