YouTube Launches $100m Black Voices Fund For Creators In Nigeria, Others

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YouTube has launched a multi-year, $100 million fund dedicated to amplifying and developing the voices of Black creators and artists.

The fund will be focusing its efforts on creators within the U.S., Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

This means that artists and content creators in these countries who are unable to thrive in the creative business due to insufficient funding can now heave a sigh of relief.

The Black Voices Fund according to YouTube is created to help amplify fresh narratives and content that emphasises the intellectual power, passion and joy of this brilliant community, including Black economic equity and wellbeing, we have created the #YouTubeBlackVoicesFund.”

YouTube said the global $100m fund will, over the next three years, offer support to Black artists and creators so that they can thrive on YouTube.

The Black Voices Fund said Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, Alex Okosi, will invest with the intention to “present fresh narratives that emphasise the intellectual power, authenticity, dignity and joy of Black voices, as well as to educate audiences about racial justice.”

The $100m fund was first announced in June and has since been officially named the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund.

Okosi said this year, the fund will be focusing its efforts on creators within the US, Brazil and Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

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He said: “Our goal is to expand funding to more countries over the course of the next three years.

“Additionally, we hope to provide a consistent drumbeat of educational training, workshops, and community events to Black creators and artists globally.”

The #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund is part of the work currently underway to ensure that YouTube is a place where Black artists, creators and users can share their stories and be protected.

Okosi adds: “Along with our commitment to amplifying marginalised voices on the content side, we are also investing in product and policy changes that will continue to advance YouTube’s mission of giving everyone a voice and showing them the world.”

YouTube believes that it is only by taking a stand against those who would try to bully, harass, silence and intimidate others that it truly moves closer to achieving this mission.

Its new efforts include ramping up enforcement and terminating more accounts that repeatedly post hateful comments. It is also in the process of rolling out product changes to make creator moderation tools more streamlined.

 

Yetunde Adegoke