Google hosts YouTube creators' event in Cape Town

“YouTube creators’ events bring together YouTube creators, brands and media to celebrate local content creators and to educate brands and media on the power of video,” says Google SA head of communications and public affairs, Mich Atagana,

Google content partnership lead for YouTube sub-Saharan Africa, Teju Ajani, says, “YouTube is activated in eight African countries - South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Senegal. In countries where it is activated, content producers can elect to enable Google to run ads on their channels, and earn revenue from this advertising.

Moreover, South African creators are earning revenue. Although celebrity interviewer Anne Hirsch quipped that she “wasn’t earning enough” when asked about earning opportunities, creator Quentin Watt said he earns half his income from the programming tutorial series’ he produces and hosts on his channel.

Gaming geek Grant Hinds says YouTube provides an opportunity for creators to collaborate, earn and educate audiences on new technology - like the VR content that is starting to become available. Anne Hirsch announced at the event that she has just signed a partnership with a Johannesburg company to start producing VR content for her channel.

In addition to Grant Hinds, Anne Hirsch and Quentin Watt, the event featured agony aunty Theodora Lee, comic siblings Maya & Kahlil, Simply Refilwe, Lindi (of Lindi and Koodzi), comic Mark Fitzgibbons, DJ Arch Jnr (the youngest ever winner of South Africa’s Got Talent) and social commentator Sibu Mpanza.