Channels, IbakaTV, Others Win at YouTube Africa Creator Awards

Google at the weekend hosted the YouTube Sub-Saharan Africa Creator Awards, to celebrate the incredible creativity and talent on YouTube from across the continent.

At the award, Channels Television, leading television channel in Nigeria won “Broadcaster” award; IbakaTV, a leading online entertainment network for Nigerian Nollywood and Ghanaian movies, won the “Top Subscribed Nollywood Channel:, while Mark Angel Comedy bagged “Top Subscribed Creator in Nigeria”.

Top artists Vanessa Mdee and Timaya shared the stage with some leading African YouTube stars including Theodora Lee, Sisi Yemmie and Tofo Tofo! Grant Hinds and ‘An African City’ star, Maame Adjei hosted the festivities, with awards for 22 categories including the channel in each country with the most subscribers. Google also celebrated a huge milestone for Yellow Brick Cinema, who were awarded the international Gold Play Button Award for hitting 1 million subscribers.

YouTube is about the opportunity for people to express themselves. Creators across Africa are using YouTube to find their voice, connect with audiences around the world and build channels while earning revenue from it. The number of hours of video content in Africa being uploaded has doubled year over year for the past two years. And the audience has grown with it. Watchtime on mobile phones is growing 120% year over year.

The cost of data and the processing speed of many phones in Africa often make it challenging to enjoy watching video online. A year ago Google rolled out YouTube Offline, which helps you enjoy a smooth, buffer-free version of YouTube during periods of low to no connectivity. And Google is working on more ways to help you deal with data cost and connectivity difficulties.

Tonight was about celebrating the award winners and creators you love, and all those who use YouTube to express themselves and who give a voice to Africa’s stories.

The awardees: the Comedy - Kansiime Anne; Comic - Ramscomics / Supastrikas; Education - Retutpro - Photography and Photoshop Tutorials; Entertainment – NdaniTV; Fitness - Six Pack Factory

Games - Slushy AJ; Makeup and fashion - Kangai Mwiti; Music - Yellow Brick Cinema; News and politics - Millard Ayo; Nonprofit - Jim Nduruchi and People and Blogs - Suzelle DIY.

Others are Pets and animals - Earth Touch; Top Subscribed Creator Uganda - Kansiime Anne; Top Subscribed Creator in Ghana – OfficialSarkodie; Top Subscribed Creator in Kenya - Churchill Show; Top Subscribed Creator in Senegal - Prince Arts; Top Subscribed Creator in South Africa - Yellow Brick Cinema; Top Subscribed Creator in Tanzania – DiamondPlatnumz; Top Subscribed Creator in Zimbabwe - Mufti Menk; Top Subscribed Nollywood Channel - IbakaTV/Nollywood.