Mandi Sarro, popularly known as Miss Mandi, probably had the longest week last week when she was being roasted for allegedly being toxic. After all the bile directed towards her, she has reasons to smile.
Kenyans on Twitter had a field day creating memes, jokes and unprintable insults but now guess who has the last laugh?
Miss Mandi has been selected alongside three other Kenyans to join a global cohort of 135 from around the world for #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund initiative.
In total, 26 African YouTubers were selected and each is set to receive seed funding alongside dedicated support to help them develop their channels. They will also take part in bespoke and hands-on training, workshops and networking programs.
While the group of creators from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa come from varied professional, social and academic backgrounds, one common thread connects them all - the desire to make a difference in their communities and Africa through relatable and insightful content.
“This group of creators is making content that starts important conversations about issues we face in society, which really resonate with their audience. We are inspired by them and hope that the skills they learn from being part of this programme will help them touch more lives than they’d ever imagined,” said Alex Okosi, MD, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA.
This is the second class of African creators in the #YouTubeBlackVoicesFund which is now established as a multi-year commitment aimed at nurturing Black creators and artists on YouTube.
In 2021, the program welcomed 133 grantees from Australia, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and United States in its inaugural year, with plans to invest directly in over 500 innovators and artists globally to fulfill its objective.
Other Kenyans selected for the program are; Wendy Angel Nangayo, Cheyenne Chelimo Umulinga Muvunyi and Justus Nandwa.?
