Entertainment
Asake, BNXN, Other Africa Creators For YouTubeBlack Voices 2023

YouTube on Tuesday selected 40 creators from Sub-Saharan Africa to be part of 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voices.
It reinforced efforts to support creators and the creative economy in Africa through the 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voices creators and artist cohorts.
#YouTubeBlack, which is in its third year, is an initiative from YouTube as a followup to a global, multi-year commitment made in 2020 to uplift and grow Black creators, artists, songwriters, and producers on the platform.
The 40 creators from Sub-Saharan Africa will be part of the 135 #YouTubeBlack Voices Creators selected globally who are enrolled into the cohort.
READ ALSO: Full List Of 2023 Grammy Nominations
Among the 23 #YouTubeBlack Voices artists selected for the programme are African fast-rising musical artists Gyakie from Ghana, Kamo Mphela from South Africa, Asake from Nigeria and BNXN from Nigeria.
The cohort will also include Hip Hop producer MashBeatz from South Africa and Nairobi-based producer Ukweli, who will be joining 17 #YouTubeBlack Voices Songwriters and Producers globally.
As support from YouTube, grantees will receive $20,000 and $50,000 as seed funding, dedicated partner support for six months and have the opportunity to participate in programmes including bespoke training, workshops and networking programmes spread out across the year.
Alex Okosi, MD, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA said: “We are excited about the creators, musical artists and producers from Africa joining others from across the world in the 2023 #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund. The initiative is dedicated to equipping up-and-coming Black creators and artists with the resources to succeed on our platform.
“We are seriously interested in the growth of the creative community in Africa. For the creators, artists, songwriters and producers that will be joining this third cohort, we will go beyond the initial training to measure our success with them over a long-term period, thereby ensuring that they achieve sustained success.”
The artists, songwriters, and producers joining the #YouTubeBlack Voices Music Class of 2023 will be required to set goals, develop content strategy, and engage with their fans on YouTube, with the assistance of a YouTube partner manager. There will be networking opportunities with other artists, songwriters, and producers included in the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, and a chance to maximise the impact of their channels as they provide catalogue-development opportunities.
READ ALSO: Full List Of 2023 Grammy Nominations
Over the next few years, YouTube will be directly investing in more than 500 creators and artists from across the world to support, grow, and fund their channels and content development through the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund.
Below is Africa’s full list of the #YouTubeBlack Voices Creator Class of 2023 (in alphabetical order per country):
Entertainment
Why I Stopped Attending Church Service – Funke Akindele
Famous Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, has opened up on why she lost interest in attending church service.
The actress who made the revelation in a Snapchat video on Sunday, stated that she stopped going to church because attention often shifted to her rather than the service.
While explaining that she’s always the one they take pictures of, the actress said she now joins church service online.
READ ALSO:Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight
Akindele said “Anytime I go to church, I am always the one they take pictures of. So I will join online.”
Recall that in 2022, Akindele openly identified herself with the Celestial Church of Christ.
“Every time I have challenges I go to the Celestial church quietly at night for solutions. But I have to stop hiding and publicly identify with the church”, she said.
Entertainment
‘My Mum Started Quoting Bible’ — Shank Sparks Debate After Tattoo Confession
Popular Nigerian content creator, Shank has stirred reactions online after opening up about a personal clash with his mother over tattoos, while also revealing a fresh body ink linked to his “Lit Gang” identity.
The revelation surfaced in a recent viral video shared on his social platforms, where he recounted the moment he tattooed his mother’s name, “Oluremi,” on his arm.
According to him, what he expected to be an emotional moment quickly turned tense.
“The day I tattooed my mum’s name on my arm, she started crying and quoting Bible,” Shank said.
READ ALSO:Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight
He explained that his mother strongly opposed the act, citing religious reasons and warning him against marking his body.
“She told me, ‘did I ask you to draw my name? I don’t like it. Don’t do tattoo again. God said don’t mark your body,’” he recalled.
Shank, however, said he challenged her stance by pointing out what he described as a contradiction.
“I asked her, if you say I should leave my body the way God created it, why do you shave your hair? You that shave hair and me that draw tattoo, we are committing the same sin,” he added.
READ ALSO:Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking
The content creator used the moment to advise young people navigating similar situations with parents, stressing the importance of independence when making personal decisions.
“Just make sure you’re independent before doing what your parents are not comfortable with,” he said.
Amid the conversation, Shank also unveiled a new tattoo on his back with the inscription “Lit Gang,” a move that has further fueled reactions among fans.
While some social media users backed his arguement on personal choice and self-expression, others sided with his mother, citing cultural and religious concerns about body markings.
The development has continued to generate debate online, highlighting the growing tension between traditional beliefs and modern youth culture in Nigeria’s entertainment space.
Entertainment
Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight
Popular Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus, has challenged Funke Akindele to a celebrity boxing fight.
This came a few hours after Nigerian streamer, Carter Efe defeated Portable in a celebrity boxing match.
Carter Efe defeated Portable on Friday to win the N50 million prize.
Following Carter’s victory, E-Money, a Lagos-based socialist gifted him N50 to celebrate his win.
READ ALSO:Funke Akindele Snubs Toyin Abraham At Iyabo Ojo’s Premiere (VIDEO)
Prior to the match, popular talent manager, and music executive, Soso Soberekon, gave N40 million to Carter Efe and Portable each.
However, speaking in a now viral post on her Instagram page, Eniola Badmus challenged Funke Akindele to a boxing fight and called on E-Money and Soso Soberekon to sponsor the match.
She wrote “Funke Akindele, let’s get on the boxing ring. It’s about time. Soso, E-Money, let’s get to it. No time. Money has to be made.”
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