YouTube has released a list of the most watched videos in 2022, revealing a sharp rise in consumption of locally generated content.
The lists show locally created content that celebrates different ways of life by Kenyans within homes, villages, and workplaces registered the highest viewership.
Thee Pluto Show by content creator Robert Ndegwa led in the Top Creators' category followed by Pastor Ezekiel Odero's New Life TV Kenya channel and real-life experiences talk show channels, Lynn Ngugi and Mungai Eve respectively.
Other top creators were Nicholas Kioko, Churchill Television, Jackie Matubia, Comrade's Flavour, TT Comedian, and Nigeria's comedy channel SamSpedy.
Among the top trending videos were songwriter-artiste Zuchu's performance at a local secondary school in Tanzania, child content creator TT Comedian, NTV's live coverage of William Ruto being declared president, and news about Kenya's 2022 election results that was live-streamed on YouTube.
Discussing personal finance, love life, baby 'journey' to family issues saw Jackie Matubia's channel attract the highest number of new subscriptions registered followed by MbiliTV, Obinna TV, Okumba Junior, Aicy Stevens, and Nick Kwach, Austin Muigai, Ariane Dashian, Hunch Show, NichLmao and I am Kabugi respectively.
'Calm Down' by Rema was the most viewed and listened to song followed by Otile Brown's new release 'Woman' featuring Tanzanian crooner Harmonize and 'Toto' by gospel-turned-secular pop artist Willy Paul.
Hit single 'Why' by Rwanda's music icon, The Ben featuring Diamond Platnumz also enjoyed a top rating followed by 'Mtasubiri by Tanzania's Diamond Platnumz featuring Zuchu, 'Mi Amor' by Marioo featuring Zuchu, Ali Kiba's Utu, Kishash featuring Ndovu Kuu, and Ghananian crooner Camidoh's 'Sugarcane' remix featuring Mayorkun, King Promise and Darkoo.
A social experiment of a blind man carrying highly valuable electronic gadgets falling that was uploaded by Ilya Borzon on their YouTube Shorts channel was the most watched in the Top Shorts category followed by Omar Raja, How Ridiculous, Bam and Bri Nation, Tov Family, SportsNation, michakdayo TV, Hingaflips, Gau and Kem as well as Nigerian comedian Ayodele Aguda's Mc Shem Comedian channel.