If you search for Charity Ekezie on Tik Tok, you’ll see a content creator with over a million followers and 35 million likes! These are impressive numbers for anyone, especially someone who only joined the platform in 2020. But what makes Ekezie one of Africa’s most followed, unique TikTokers? – Her ability to confront and break stereotypes about Africa through satire and sarcasm.
As part of our Fav of the Week, fraycollege spoke to the Nigerian content creator about her videos and becoming the West African winner of the 2022 Tik Tok Baraza Creator Competition.
The competition aimed to celebrate Africa Day by inviting TikTokers to educate their audiences about the continent, and the different countries and cultures that exist.
“The video I did [for the competition] was to expose my audience to the different countries in Africa, mentioning all the countries and flags, because I have a lot of American followers. 70% of my followers are Americans and they don’t know countries in Africa,” Ekezie pointed out.
For Ekezie, Tik Tok has become a platform to educate people all over the world about Africans and how Africans live. “I have gotten feedback from people, especially in the West, who tell me ‘Oh you really have this in Africa, growing up this is what I was told about Africa…’” she said.
She debunks stereotypes about Africa by juxtaposing her response with the actual items in the video. In her latest Tik Tok, Ekezie was asked: “Do you have toilet paper in Africa?”And her response was placing toilet paper rolls in the background while comically highlighting that Africans use dry grass and figs as toilet paper.
Ekezie’s videos get between 300 000 and 10 million likes.
“It’s an achievement for me,” she said, adding, “one video at a time, I am changing someone’s perspective.”
She’s highlighted that Tik Tok has changed how creators share their work. “On Instagram, when you post content, it’s towards your circle of friends, the same as Facebook. But with Tik Tok, no matter which corner of the world you are in, your content will be spread across the globe – and that is a win.”.
Unlike many other social media platforms, Tik Tok acknowledges the power of creators and offers support where possible.
“They involve the community, they provide support teams that you can contact directly if there are issues,” Ekezie said.
“They are actively involved in our lives as creators by giving us tools to make our creation better.”
Ekezie has described herself as a multipotentialite – someone born with different talents and who is able to use those talents to generate income.
“Growing up, I always felt different because I could act, I could dance, I could draw – the only thing I can’t do is sing,” she laughed.
Going forward Ekezie sees herself branching into television as a news anchor, adding that she would love to travel, especially in Africa, and share more about the beauty and richness of her continent.
When it comes to content creation Ekezie says it’s important to be yourself.
“Nobody is there to judge you. If your content is good, people will enjoy it and support you.”
Charity Ekezie spoke at our Africa Day webinar earlier this year about the power of Tik Tok and how to make your own videos. You can watch it here.
