More than 100 black YouTube creators from all over the world were in Kenya over the last week for the #YouTubeBlack Voices Creator Celebration event.
The YouTube Black Voices fund is a three-year programme launched in 2020, with the aim of supporting and amplifying black creators with access to the funding and resources needed to thrive on the platform.
The event was meant to celebrate the 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund grantees and allow them to connect, network and collaborate with other creators.
The creators were hosted at State House by President William Ruto.
"We welcome you to enjoy the magical delights, charming hospitality and natural beauty of Kenya as you witness for yourselves what YouTube is doing for our vibrant creative and digital economy," he said.
The number of Kenyan channels on YouTube making over Sh100,000 in revenue has risen by 25 per cent from last year. More than 14 channels have more than one million subscribers, an increase of 110 per cent in the same time period.
"Them being welcomed by the President is phenomenal ... Having someone at that level recognise the importance of creative jobs and opportunities for young people is remarkable," said Alex Okosi, YouTube's Managing Director for Emerging Markets.
The comments come hot on the heels of Talanta Hela launch, which Ruto also held at State House last week, an initiative meant to help monetise talents in the sports and creative spaces.
Ruto also applauded YouTube's Black Voices fund for creating opportunities to celebrate and promote black art and creativity worldwide. The fund has supported 378 creators globally, including 18 creators from Kenya.
"They provided various training sessions throughout the six-month period and the information was priceless....The funding helped me to buy better equipment and to improve my set, among other things," said Susan Wahome of Suzy's Homestead, when she spoke at the State House event.
"Our support included dedicated support from a YouTube Partner Manager: seed funding in developing their YouTube channels and tailor-made training, development and networking sessions," said Okosi.
Mungai Kihara, who runs the YouTube channel African Real Estate, said getting to connect was very important for them.
"The last time we had such an event we connected with the people of Africa. Right now, we are connecting with the whole world, including the US, Canada and the UK. There has been a lot to learn," he said.
Meanwhile, the digital superhighway is set to expand even further after Google partnered with the government to provide 25,000 free wifi hotspots across the country to improve internet access.
Ruto said Google had invested $5 million to enable hospitals, courts and technical and vocational training institutions to install local area networks and to connect them to the national fibre-optic infrastructure. Okosi said Google has committed grant funding through Google.org to support the training of Kenyans across all 47 counties.
