Africans Should Become ‘Real Ambassadors’ of Continent, Says Ghanaian Influencer

Addis Ababa, May 8, 2026 —Prominent Ghanaian YouTuber and pan-African content creator Wode Maya has urged Africans to take control of the continent’s narrative, saying they are the “real ambassadors” best positioned to reshape global perceptions of Africa.

Speaking at the African Social Media Influencers Summit (ASMIS) 2026 panel discussion in Addis Ababa, Wode Maya said Africans must stop relying on outsiders to tell their stories and instead use their own platforms to challenge long-standing stereotypes about the continent.

“I personally believe that Africans are the real ambassadors of the continent,” he said during a panel discussion.

“If you want to tackle stereotypes, you don’t wait for somebody to tell stories for you. You have to start telling the real stories.”

The content creator revealed that his passion for changing Africa’s narrative began after he graduated as an aviation engineer and encountered prejudice from colleagues who underestimated him because of his African background.

He said the experience pushed him to begin documenting positive stories from across the continent.

“That is why I started this journey,  showcasing the beauty of Africa to the rest of the world,” he said. “It is time for Africans to use our platforms wisely to change stereotypes about our continent because no one else is doing it for us.”

Wode Maya also credited his success to staying authentic and embracing his roots, saying audiences connected with his storytelling because it reflected who he truly is.

“I didn’t want to be anyone else. I just wanted to be me,” he said. “I was born and raised in the village, so I wanted to use the village way of telling stories.”

He noted that his content deliberately focuses on highlighting Africa’s progress and opportunities rather than reinforcing negative narratives.

According to him, his time living and working in China helped him understand the power of branding and strategic storytelling.

“Because of what I learned while living in China, I decided that it was time to rebrand Africa in my own way,” he said.

Using Ethiopia as an example, Wode Maya praised the country’s development efforts, saying many of its transformation stories remain underreported.

“I came to Ethiopia and saw the transformation happening, and no one was talking about it,” he said. “What the Prime Minister has done in this country, a lot of Africans need to learn from.”

He said he independently traveled across Ethiopia to produce content showcasing the country’s modernization efforts, adding that the videos later gained widespread attention and were shared by embassies and government institutions.

Wode Maya also called on African governments and institutions to support digital creators, arguing that influencers have become powerful voices capable of shaping the continent’s global image.

“We are the real voices of the continent,” he said. “If you start believing in us, we will become more powerful than CNN or BBC that you pay money to showcase your stories.”

ASMIS 2026 has brought together digital creators, policymakers, and media professionals from across Africa to discuss the future of digital storytelling, innovation, and the continent’s growing influence in global media.

Participants at the summit have consistently emphasized the need for Africans to tell authentic stories that promote unity, tourism, investment, and development across the continent.