The #YouTubeBlack Voices Artist Class of 2022 includes 54 artists, songwriters and producers, like Uganda’s Priscilla Zawedde alias Azawi and Nigeria’s Omah Lay.
KAMPALA | LIFESTYLE UGANDA (https://lifestyleuganda.com/) — Priscilla Zawedde alias Azawi of Uganda, Elaine from South Africa and Nigeria’s Omah Lay are three of the 54 artists, songwriters and producers selected for the #YouTubeBlack Voices Artist Class of 2022.
- #YouTubeBlack Voices Artist Class of 2022 welcomes Azawi, Omah Lay, and Elaine.
- The class will be divided into two streams: one for songwriters and producers; one for artists.
- This will help up-and-coming Black artists, songwriters and producers succeed on YouTube.
The artist lineup includes eight Africans from Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda as well as acts from Australia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
#YouTubeBlack Voices Artist Class of 2022, sponsored by YouTube Black Voices Fund, is an international development programme that supports and mentors Black musicians, songwriters, and producers worldwide.
The inclusion of songwriters and producers in the 2022 class shows YouTube’s commitment to supporting Black artists.
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The class will be divided into two streams: one for songwriters and producers; one for artists. This will help up-and-coming Black artists, songwriters and producers succeed on YouTube.
A series of workshops will be held to equip up-and-coming Black artists, songwriters, and producers with the skills to succeed on YouTube, with two streams devoted to each: one for artists, and one for songwriters and producers.
During the class, participants will receive partner support, seed funding to invest in their channels and opportunities to participate in training and networking initiatives related to production, fan engagement and wellbeing.
Furthermore, they will get to work with other global producers and songwriters who were also selected as part of the programme over the next 6 months.
YouTube’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan, Addy Awofisayo says the program is important because African music is sweeping the globe, and #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund is a way to thrive as well as nurture talent in Africa.
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As YouTube’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan, Addy Awofisayo explains, “African music is taking the world by storm and the #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund is an opportunity to showcase African artistry to the world.”
With YouTube Black Voices’ support, Ugandan musician Azawi, whose music blends African rhythms and sounds heavily influenced by her life experience, has high hopes for where her journey will lead.
Azawi said: “ I have a passion for writing songs and a desire to say something through my craft. I see the #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund sharing my work and brand with a bigger audience and platform, which means more exposure and opportunities for my career, ”
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”The #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund is a platform that will introduce my brand and tunes to a wider audience and give me more exposure and opportunities, said Azawi. ”
Omah Lay said: “My background influences my music in a whole lot of ways. I am Nigerian born and raised in Port Harcourt. The strong culture we have back home, and the environment as well, play a big role in how I make my music. My music speaks to the people that love me, the people I love, and the people who have been through what I have been through. I see the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund impacting my career in different ways. It will ease the financial burden of production for my music and some lifestyle-related content that I am embarking on, as well as in marketing them to a greater audience.”
Omah Lay stated: “I see the #YouTubeBlackVoices Fund impacting my career in various ways. It will ease the financial burden of producing music and lifestyle-related content, as well as marketing them to a larger audience.”
Azawi’s YouTube channel has more than 62.3K subscribers and more than 6 million views. Her songs like “Repeat it” and “Quinamino” had over 3,000,000 views, and her latest song, “My Year,” has over 700,000 views.
In October, Azawi released her debut album ‘African Music’, a 16 track album that is already charting on YouTube Music in Uganda and Apple Music. It featured songs like ‘slow dancing‘ and ‘My Year‘.
Following is a complete list of African artists and songwriters/producers who are part of the #YouTubeBlackVoices Music Class of 2022:
- Azawi – Ugandan Artist
- CKay – Nigerian Artist
- DJ Lag – South African Songwriter/Producer
- Elaine – South African Artist
- Major League DJz – South African Songwriter/Producer
- Omah Lay – Nigerian Artist
- Priime Beatz– Nigerian Songwriter/Producer
- Telz – Nigerian Songwriter/Producer
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