By Adedapo Adesanya
Top leading video streaming platform, YouTube, has announced that artistes and creators from Nigeria can apply for the $100 million Black Voices Fund.
This was announced today by Mr Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA, in a statement, adding that the global fund would over the next three years offer support to Black artistes and creators.
He said the fund would enable beneficiaries to thrive on YouTube.
The managing director said that Black Voices Fund would 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.
He said that the $100 million fund was first announced in June and was officially named the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund.
According to him, this year, the fund will be focusing its efforts on creators within the US, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
“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.
He said, “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,” he said.
According to Mr Okosi, “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.
The YouTube chief said that the platform 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.
He said that YouTube’s new efforts included ramping up enforcement and terminating more accounts that repeatedly post hateful comments.
He added that the platform was also in the process of rolling out product changes to make creator moderation tools are more streamlined.
Mr Okosi said that interested artistes and creators can apply for funding here.
