In today’s digital age, creators are capitalizing and tapping into the global digital economy.
Across Nigeria and beyond creators are transforming their talents, offering exclusive content into micro businesses.
Whether in music, tutorial or entertainment creators are building new revenue streams through voice tech, exploring smart monetization strategies, regional success stories and emerging markets Opportunities.
This article explores earning highlights, business models and the latest ways influencers and artist are capitalizing on the booming ecosystem, spotlighting emerging trends and fueling their growth through this global trend.
Over the past decade, Africa’s tech ecosystem has witnessed a surge in innovation with digital creators increasingly leveraging technology to build sustainable income streams.
The rise of AI powered platforms, including voice AI Via Tech has empowered individuals to create and sell digital products, offer virtual service, automation bots and personalized services that solve local problems while earning globally.
According to the African Development Bank, the continent’s digital economy could contribute over $180 billion to GDP by 2025, a sign of growing opportunity. This shift marks a significant evolution from reliance on traditional employment to a creator led, tech driven economy.
This shift reflect a larger trend. African innovators are not just consuming technology they are building with it.
CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS
- African creators are increasingly leveraging AI driven platforms to monetize their talents directly through infrastructure and tools. Key initiatives include Karnix Africa which uses AI to match African filmmakers and content creators with global investors bypassing traditional platforms and costly intermediaries. The Africa Channel, launching AI as a Service tools like dubbing, ad placement and metadata optimization to monetize African media assets.
- Zambian startup Caantin has launched AI driven voice agents that can autonomously make millions of calls for businesses handling order taking, payment prompts and customer service in multiple African languages (Igbo, Hausa, Swahili, Yoruba). Its calls are natural sounding, reducing overhead and boosting scalability for fintechs like Cowrywise by enabling 100k calls with just one employee.
- South African startup Botlhale AI is building voice AI to support under represented African languages, bridging the linguistic divide to enhance productivity.
THOSE INVOLVED INCLUDE:
- Franklin Mogoi, head of Qhala Labs, spearheads efforts to help creatives in Kenya and beyond retain more earnings, addressing a $20B+ outflow from Africa due to platform fees and building AI tools for matching creatives with investors and aiding legal IP support.
- Timothy Owase, CEO of the Kenya Film Commission Champions Africa’s “Orange Economy” using creative industries as economic drivers.
- Narendre Reddy Africa Channel is directing TAC Labs which is rolling out Saas solutions to help African content creators monetize via scalable AI tools.
- Tech giants like Meta Facebook & Instagram have extended monetization tools such as in‑stream ads, bonuses and subscriptions to creators in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
SIGNIFICANCE
- Cost efficiency and scalability ~ AI voice agent scale where SMBs and fintechs cannot afford large call center teams driving efficiency and savings.
- Language inclusion ~ Voice AI tools enable speakers of local languages to access services without language barriers tacking digital exclusion.
- Regional growth and global funding ~ Rapid funding rounds expansion signal strong investor interest via tech, positioning Africa as a rising hub for voice AI innovation.
- It keeps more revenue on the continent by limiting offshore platform transfers.
- It builds local infrastructure, empowering homegrown businesses and creative ownership.
- It validates Africa’s young digital ecosystem rated as the fastest growing creator economy globally, at +28.5% annually and projected to reach $17.8 billion by 2030.
These developments signal a major inflection point AI is not just a buzzword but actively powering scalable business models for African creators. From bridging a massive capital gap to automating media workflows, Via Tech platforms are shaping a self reliant, creative ecosystem that doesn’t just export talent, it builds technological sovereignty and economic value locally.
Key sources
For detailed analysis on the $20 billion revenue loss and Karnix Africa’s AI solution.
Meta’s expansion of monetization tools to Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya.
Market trends and projections for Africa’s creator economy.
EXPERT INSIGHT
Industry leaders and creators across Africa have welcomed the shift toward AI-powered monetization platforms, emphasizing both the empowerment and the challenges ahead.
For too long, African creators have fueled global platforms without fair compensation. AI gives us the power to build and own the tools we need, connecting creators to value not just visibility. Franklin Mogoi, Director of Qhala Labs (Kenya).
The creative economy is the new oil for Africa. With platforms like Karnix and AI-powered voice tools, we are exporting more than talent we are exporting solutions. Timothy Owase, CEO, Kenya Film Commission.
A Nigerian digital artist shared, “Before now, I replied on Instagram tips and random commissions. Now I use an AI chatbot to sell, print directly, manage custom orders and automate email marketing” It’s a game changer.
Content creators, especially in Nigeria and South Africa, say they are already seeing results. According to a 2025 survey by Creators Africa Network, 72% of digital creators using AI-powered tools earned 30–60% more in Q1 2025 than in the previous year. Many credit localized platforms with offering faster payouts, culturally relevant algorithms and better audience targeting.
IMPLICATIONS
The rise of monetization through Via Tech platforms could create ripple effects across the African tech ecosystem:
- Economic Empowerment ~ With creators earning directly, there’s a redistribution of income from global middlemen to local producers. This shift reduces financial leakage to foreign owned platforms, keeping revenue within the continent.
- Increased Digital Infrastructure ~ The need for local payment systems, digital marketplaces and AI training hubs will drive investment and innovation.
- Youth Engagement ~ As more young Africans see viable career paths in tech enabled creativity, there’s potential to reduce unemployment and brain drain. And socially it empowers young Africans with digital tools to express identity, address local issues and earn a living.
- Cultural Preservation ~ By owning the means of content creation and distribution, African creators can tell authentic stories without dilution from Western platforms.
Analysts suggest this trend may redefine Africa’s place in the global creative economy. As Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General, recently emphasized in a related forum:
Africa must not miss the digital revolution especially in the creative space where we already lead in talent. Monetizing that talent through tech is the next frontier.
BROADER PERSPECTIVE
The future of creator monetization in Africa is rapidly evolving with several key developments on the horizon. Qhala Labs is set to roll out Phase 2 of Karnix Africa, introducing a marketplace for AI-trained virtual actors and voice over artists enabling creators to license their voices and characters globally.
Meanwhile, Meta’s Creator Academy in Nigeria plans to train 10,000 new creators in AI tools and monetization strategies by the end of 2025.
Venture capital interest is also growing future Africa startups are reportedly exploring new funding rounds for African AI platforms focused on creator tools, further validating this booming sector.
This trend aligns with Techdom Africa’s core values local innovation, sustainable development and digital inclusion.
By empowering creators to become tech entrepreneurs Via Tech platforms are helping bridge the digital divide, create jobs and scale African stories to global platforms without losing ownership.
Are you an African creator, developer or investor passionate about AI and the creator economy!!!
Join the conversation. Collaborate. Create and Cash in with purpose.
