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On April 23rd, Kenyans will join the global community in celebrating International Creators Day at the University of Nairobi.
More than 2,000 social media influencers and representatives from public and private institutions are expected to gather for this event.
International Creators Day recognizes the valuable contributions made by digital content creators worldwide. It highlights their entrepreneurial spirit and their ability to inspire, entertain, and educate communities.
Martin Muli, the Kenya Coordinator for International Creator Day and Director of Kenya Social Media Awards (SOMA), announced the event. He emphasized that it will provide a platform for creators, brands, and industry service providers to connect through exhibitions and conferences.
The conference will feature discussions led by industry experts on global and local trends in content creation. Topics such as content monetization, engagement, tools, brand influencing, and creator start-up financing will be explored.
Leading digital platforms, creator management agencies, and industry brands will participate in the event. There will also be an exhibition showcasing the latest innovations and equipment for creators, as well as a Creators Studio for on-the-spot content creation.
Safaricom, a leading mobile telecommunications service provider, is the anchor sponsor of the event. Fawzia Ali, Safaricom’s Chief Consumer Business Officer, emphasized the importance of empowering and upskilling creators.
She highlighted Safaricom’s youth platform, Safaricom Hook, which aims to support the aspirations of young people by leveraging technology. The University of Nairobi is also participating in the event, aiming to equip students with modern skills for the job market.
“We are at the forefront of digital transformation and in the lookout for opportunities that will empower our students with modern skills that will give them a competitive edge in the job market,” said Nairobi’s Corporate Affairs Director Mr John Orindi.
“We want our students and the lecturers to be part of the emerging creator economy that presents employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.”
Kenya’s digital content creator economy has experienced significant growth in recent years, with creators monetizing various types of content. Memes, videos, vlogs, live streams, blogs, courses, photos, comics, games, infographics, and apps have all gained popularity.
A study by Goldman Sachs predicts further growth in the creator economy, with a compound annual growth rate of 10-20% over the next five years. Currently, only about 4% of global creators earn over US$100,000 annually.
Creators primarily earn income through branding deals, advertising revenue sharing, subscriptions, donations, and direct payments from followers. Brand deals account for about 70% of their revenue, according to surveys.
International Creators Day celebrates the creativity and innovation of Kenya’s digital talent while providing valuable opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration in the ever-evolving digital landscape.