Amahle-Imvelo Jaxa's TikTok video about South African peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo went viral, catapulting her from entrepreneur to a "professional yapper and current affairs enthusiast." She is part of a wave of content creators reshaping how young Africans consume news, moving away from traditional media to platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Africa Leads in News Creator Engagement
According to the 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, social media users in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria are far more likely to pay attention to news creators than those in northern Europe or Japan. In Nigeria, 61% of respondents follow news creators, followed by Kenya at 58%, and South Africa at 39%. These three African countries also rank among the top four globally for the impact of news creators on social media users.
South Africa: Translating News for Younger Generations
Jaxa, 32, started posting explainer videos after an argument with her younger brother about not voting. She realized the generation after her was disinterested in politics. "That was very concerning for me, because they are the next leaders," she said. Jaxa sees herself as a translator of news, not a replacement for traditional media. Her topics range from the Iran war to the South African president's state of the nation address. She earns most of her income from brand partnerships on Instagram, where she posts less news content.
Sisanda Nkoala, an associate professor at the University of the Western Cape, notes that news consumption has shifted from communal radio or TV to individual online experiences. She warns that this shift widens the digital divide, as 21% of South African households lacked internet access in the 2022 census, particularly in rural areas.
Kenya: History Buffs and Viral Reactions
Valerie Keter got into news creation by chance in 2023 after reacting to a South African historical drama. Her video on preserving African stories went viral, leading her to create content on pre-colonial African history. Keter, 31, reaches audiences aged 25-34 who find her relatable. "When they watch us, it's like they're watching their cousin, their sister," she said. Norbert Mburu of Odipo Dev notes that social media has democratized news, allowing creators to compete with legacy media with less regulatory worry.
Nigeria: Satire and Advocacy
Bello "Dan Bello" Galadanchi became a news addict after a 2011 Boko Haram bombing. He worked at Voice of America and BBC Hausa before becoming a Beijing-based teacher. His videos in Hausa with English subtitles blend satirical analysis with advocacy, targeting government officials. With over 2 million TikTok followers, he operates an informal news network with a small team that verifies information. His exposés have led to releases of detained people and payment of salary backlogs. Galadanchi denies accusations of political bias.
David Adeleke of Communiqué says the shift to editorializing platforms is due to changing consumption habits and the #EndSars protests in 2020, where mainstream media was seen as cautious. "These new media platforms spoke up for young people," he said.
