Johannesburg - This week, video-sharing social networking service TikTok announced the inaugural cohort of Rising Voices grant recipients.
A total of 20 creators will be receiving a cash grant of about R860 000 in total.
The grant follows the first-ever six-week Rising Voices incubator programme in June where, along with 80 other creators, the grant recipients were given mentorship, masterclasses and special training on content creation for the service.
“Through Rising Voices, our goal has always been to uplift and empower creators of colour on the platform, providing the necessary support to help them express themselves. With the right tools at their fingertips, we were truly spellbound by the incredible talent that came to light over the last six weeks,” said TikTok content operations manager, Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba.
In addition to the cash grant, recipients will continue to receive content advice and support while they conceptualise and curate 10 pieces of content for their platforms. TikTok will provide further support by amplifying their content to users on the platform, which in turn will help those creators grow their accounts.
“During the programme, it was inspiring to see participants fully immerse themselves in creating quality content, participating in the masterclasses and taking to collaboration and connecting with each other with great enthusiasm.
“We are excited to reveal that in addition to the 839 million views received across creator content, 4.6 million followers were gained, 2.1 million shares occurred and a total of 9 800 videos created, showcasing local and relatable content created during the course of the programme.”
One of the more popular users, Khanyisa Jaceni, has managed to grow her audience with fun content. The budding comedienne said the Rising Voices initiative has been an eye opener for her.
“I got to understand that you can actually make a career in the content creation world. I plan to upgrade my equipment with the funds and focus on making more quality content to bring to the world and hopefully attract more brands to work with me as I am a brand myself.”
Dr Siyamak Saleh is the first verified South African doctor on TikTok. He joined the platform in March last year to educate people on medical topics, including breaking the stigma of HIV, chronic conditions, women’s health and fighting misinformation on Covid-19 and the vaccine.
“I wanted to also debunk myths that most of us grew up believing. It’s been a rewarding experience as I’ve been recognised by the World Health Organization and I’m working with them on a couple of projects. I’ve been mentioned in the British Medical Journal and even though I have 1.6 million followers, I still feel I’m a beginner in the field (TikTok).”
He applied for the Rising Voices programme and received advice about building a brand and growing your account.
“We had assignments which taught us how to discover areas of content creation we wouldn’t normally go to. This made a more versatile content creator. I’m honoured to be one of the 20 recipients and will invest it into my set-up. My goal for the future is to do this on a much bigger scale – this is my passion, to educate. I want to reach as many people as possible.”
For Sphokuhle Ntshalintshali, entering the Rising Voices initiative was a way for her to feel empowered as a creator.
“I wanted to grow in the content creation space. I knew that Rising Voices was the perfect programme for that. I learnt so much, including tips on how to network and how to get noticed by brands. Those are key factors when you want to monetise your brand,” she said.
Participants were taken through a rigorous content creation boot camp where they learned digital skills to help amplify their content creation abilities, grow their personal brands, monetise their content and gain access to career-building resources and industry experts such as film-maker Mmabatho Montsho, actress Nomzamo Mbatha, DNA Brand Architects founder Sylvester Chauke, and social media influencers Nadia Jaftha and Mihlali Ndamase.
“I have to try my best not to damage my brand because supporters are watching and most of them are children, so I know not to say or do certain things in public. I learnt how to be resilient and not let people’s comments get to you. Receiving the grant means I’m one step closer to reaching my goal in terms of content producing. So for that I am forever grateful. I also want to get the help of a videographer to help with my videos for brands. I always want to ensure that my content stands out.”
Sidwaba said that South Africa is home to extraordinary local talent with the ability to stand out on global stages as the possibilities were endless.
“I make videos on Tik Tok where I create music and take trending songs and turn them into a song that South Africans can relate to. I entered Rising Voices because I wanted to amplify my content and I wanted to find out more about the content creation world which I knew a little bit about prior to joining the programme.
“One thing that we were taught was to keep our mental health in check. I’m a recipient of the grant and it feels crazy, I still can’t believe it. Being chosen as one of the 20 out of the 100 great creators is great. I want to upgrade my equipment because it’s important to invest back into your craft. Looking forward, I will be collaborating more and being more versatile,” said Thozamile Mnguni.
The programme was a collaboration between TikTok and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF).
“The opportunity to mould young content creators into future entrepreneurs who will learn to take advantage of all forms of media and monetise their ideas is one we were happy to support. Congratulations to all the young people chosen to take part and we look forward to future collaborations,” said Makhosazana Khanyile, chief executive of NFVF.
The Star