TikTok celebrates creatives with inaugural Visionary Voices Africa list

These trailblazers are making a significant impact on the platform and beyond, inspiring change and creativity in their communities. The honourees are divided into different categories including Industry Disruptors, Creators and Small-Owned Businesses, each showcasing unique contributions to reimagining African culture.

The Industry Disruptors category includes African music acts Burna Boy (Nigeria), The Joy (South Africa) and Uncle Waffles (eSwatini), as well as Nigerian chef Hilda Baci and South African travel blogger Popi Sibiya.

By recognising their talent, TikTok aims to empower more creators to share their stories and voices with the world.

“From July to August, we'll be spotlighting visionary African musicians who continue to share their artistry and music, putting Africa on global stages,” TikTok said. “Our sound pages will feature a #VisionaryVoicesAfrica playlist highlighting music from visionary voices honorees Burna Boy, The Joy and Uncle Waffles.”

To kick off the celebration, TikTok has launched an in-app #VisionaryVoicesAfrica programming hub, featuring a music playlist highlighting sounds from the diaspora. This initiative is part of TikTok’s commitment to nurturing and celebrating creative journeys and amplifying the impact of the African creator community.

Below is TikTok’s inaugural Visionary Voices Africa list:

Industry Disruptors

• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Hilda Baci (Nigeria)
• Popi Sibiya (South Africa)
• The Joy (South Africa)
• Uncle Waffles (eSwatini)

Creators

• Elsa Majimbo (Kenya)
• Banele Ndaba (South Africa)
• Chad Jones (South Africa)
• Arap Uria (Kenya)
• Iremide (Nigeria)

Small-Owned Businesses

• Mwangi Muthoni (Kenya)
• Kayla Kim Kay (South Africa)
• Blaqboi Victor (Nigeria)
• Bolo Bespoke (Kenya)
• Alexa Schemper (South Africa)

Discover more about the Visionary Voices Africa honourees here.