Miss Mandi among four Kenyan content creators to receive funding from YouTube

Media personality and self-declared throwdown queen Mandi Sarro has been selected by YouTube as one of four Kenyan content creators to join its global BlackVoices fund initiative.

As part of the initiative, Miss Mandi, as she is popularly known, and the other 3 Kenyans will receive seed funding that will go towards developing their YouTube channels.

The news comes a week after Miss Mandi sparked online conversation following bullying allegations levelled against the ex-radio presenter by a former co-worker.

After three days of trending on social media, the food YouTuber expressed remorse over the situation in a lengthy apology.

Miss Mandi and the three Kenyans are among 26 YouTube content creators on the continent drawn from Nigeria and South Africa and 135 others globally picked for the program.

The YouTube BlackVoices Fund will also provide the creatives with such beneficial programs including training, workshops and networking opportunities.

Other Kenyan YouTubers who have been selected for the initiative are Wendy Angel Nangayo (Angel Lately), Cheyenne Chelimo (cheymuv), and Justus Nandwa (Shared Moments with Justus).

“While the group of creators from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa comes 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,” said the streaming platform in a statement to newsrooms on Thursday.

Alex Okosi, MD, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA , said: “We are excited to be working with an outstanding group of young and talented African creators who understand that content that resonates with their audience is both entertaining and thought provoking.”

“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,” he added.

This is the second class of African creators in the YouTube BlackVoices Fund, with the first in 2021 welcoming 133 grantees from Australia, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and United States.