Fireboy DML, 9 other Nigerians to receive grants from YouTube

YouTube, on Tuesday, announced that Fireboy DML and nine other Nigerian Creators were among the 23 Youtubers from Africa selected to receive grants for the development of their channels. 

 The grants are from the global #YouTubeBlackVoices fund, an official associated with the fund said. Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos. 

He said 23 creators made up YouTube’s inaugural class of Africa content creators and part of the 132 creators, across the globe, participating in YouTube’s class of 2021. 

 He said that in addition to the grant earmarked for content development, the 23 YouTubers, from Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya, would also take part in an intensive three-week incubator programme, to be followed by bespoke training, workshops and networking programs. 

 According to him, top African artistes; Fireboy DML, Sauti Sol and Sho Madjozi were part of the selected 23 artists to join the #YouTubeBlack Voices Class of 2021. 

 ‘’The (African) artists will join others selected from the United States, Brazil, and Australia, whose music spans generations, and locations. 

 ‘’The Artist Class of 2021 will receive dedicated partner support from YouTube, seed funding invested into the development of their channels, and participate in training and networking programs focused on production, fan engagement, and wellbeing. 

 “We’re excited to spotlight Black creators from the African continent and amplify their voices as they create original content on our platform,” Okosi said.