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| Famous TikToker Mbote Njogu |
Famous TikToker Mbote Njogu recently sat down with Eve Mungai for an interview, where he revealed the secret to creating successful vernacular content.
Njogu explained that there’s a lot of competition among content creators, as many use Kiswahili and English, which are widely spoken and common choices for many.
He also shared that while TikTok doesn’t pay much, the key is to focus on growing one’s personal brand.
Reflecting on his early days, Mbote mentioned that he started creating TikTok videos quite early on.
He revealed that he never felt the need to go live and ask for support from followers, as he saw it as a form of borrowing.
“Sipendi tap tap kwa TikTok ju nafeel ni kuomba. Heri nilale njaa lakini sipendi kuomba omba,” he humorously told Eve.
The content creator revealed how he had started his TikTok journey and the moment he realized people were beginning to appreciate his content.
He disclosed that he used to do TikTok challenges regularly but that one day the viral video he had shot of his sister jogging and him teasing her gave him made him rethink his own content.
“Nilianza na kufanya challenges but kuna siku my sister alikuwa najog asubuhi nkamfikia adi mahali alikuwa but I wasn’t recording for TikTok.
After some days nilipost TikTok na iop video ilitembea sana na ndio nikaona kumbe nikiongea kitu yangu ivi watu wanafurahia nikaanza ivyo mdogomdogo,” he told Eve.
He then begun creating political videos during the elections which gave him a huge following.
Mbote then got endorsements for brands and different companies.
The content creator says that he liked making real content as he didn’t like scripting his content unlike most companies that ask for that from content creators.
Advise for Upcoming Content Creators
Mbote told upcoming content creators that they could do content in their vernacular language as this would lead to a competitive advantage with fans and brands.
“Si lazima ufanye content na Kiswahili. Competition iko juu sana. Fanya na io language ya kwenu na utapata umepewa kazi ya kuadvertise. Hakuna siku utanyimwa kazi eti juu unaongea lugha ya mama.”
Mbote’s advise for Choosing a Partner
Mbote also opened up about his creative process telling Eve that his girlfriend Wanjiru helped at making his videos while he used his phone to shoot them.
He then advised Kenyans on the romantic interest they should choose urging them to look for a partner who is their type.
“Tafuta type yako. Ukijua unapenda mchezo, tafuta mtu anapenda mchezo usitafute mtu serious uende kuumia bure ju hapendi jokes.”
He also advised that for people who are dating it was better for them to live in separate homes, saying that this was the key for how his relationship with his girlfriend has lasted.
“When everyone has his/her place there will be no disturbance or grudges, when you feel like your partner has wronged you, you can just go to your home and stay there.
This is not because she doesn’t love you but because it also provides an open space for you to think about other important things.”
by HILDA KANINI