Since the coming, or to put it correctly, the booming of TikTok, we have had a long list of people made exclusively made on TikTok that have become real celebrities. These people have gained hundreds of thousands of followers on the platform and you cannot dispute their starhood.
Before the coming of TikTok, celebrities in Uganda were people who came from a few select industries, like radio & TV presenters, DJs, Musicians, sportsmen and athletes, and related industries. It was not so common for people other than performing arts, entertainment, or sports to just rise to fame.
When TikTok came, it changed the way celebrities are made, the way celebrities are made. We have had people start from scratch and become real celebrities on TikTok. They became so popular and so influential that they started to wield significant influence in the entertainment, radio, and TV industries. This has been amplified by the growing influence of TikTok as a platform with thousands and thousands of new users every day.
Names like Angella Summer Namubiru, Vivian Gold Kaitetsi, Grandson, Brisha Kash, Brinah Slim Bae, Jose Chakala (Land Lord), Meek Seems Too Funny and others have hundreds of thousands of followers, and command wields a great influence over the fan population that cannot be ignored. They were not known before the rise of TikTok. They are not artists or TV presenters or sportsmen and athletes yet they have forged a form of entertainment that fans enjoy and have subscribed to.
TikTokers Vs Tradidional Celebrities
Traditional celebrities have now started seeking fame on TikTok by aligning themselves with TikTok’s powerful names. We have seen many celebrities, such as musicians take to the platform to promote songs and concerts by tapping into the popularity of the stars on the platform. The likes of Spice Diana, Chosen Becky, Feffe Busi, Big Eye, Ziza Bafana, and others have tapped Jose Chakala aka Land Lord, Brinah Slim Bae, and others to help them promote their songs and concerts.
TikTok celebrities’ influence has reached so high that they come into offline life. The stars have so many fans that they even hold shows called TikToker’s night in happening places and they have significant attendances with performers being solely TikTokers.
TikTok Celebrities and Cooperate Endorsements
TikTok has become the social media platform of choice to most average Ugandans since the government’s total ban on Facebook and the COVID-19 lockdown. Because of the presence of many users, the advertising industry has also noticed this. Many corporate companies and small businesses have taken to TikTok to advertise their products and services.
These advertising opportunities are given to the stars who are already on the platform and command a good following. Companies ranging from dairy products, financial services, gambling to fashion, and many other industries have used these TikTok stars for their advertising campaigns. Some stars even sign months-long deals where they become product and company ambassadors.
Recognition Of TikTokers
The impact of TikTokers is not only felt online. Offline events and activities have also started to recognize these YikTok stars. There have been awards for TikTokers organized them in several categories.
The Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards 2022 held in mid December saw a TikTok mega star, Angella Summer Namubiru win the Fashion Infuencer Of The Year award in the popular award. Before that, the same TikToker had won the Social Star Award in E! People’s Choice Award 2022