TWAPEWA-ASHIHE MUNGOBAARE YOU A middle-aged individual looking for some entertainment? Or perhaps youre a 16-year-old girl who is into dance videos, or you want to learn more about what is happening in the world? Then TikTok is the ideal app to install onto your gadget.
It offers content that covers any topic you can think of, from self-taught teenage chefs to professional cheesemongers and even crime-scene cleaners. This app has become widely popular among generation Z, and it provides a glimpse into what it means to be growing up in todays hyperconnected world.
many Covid-19 pandemic as the country was placed under lockdowns, forcing individuals to stay indoors and play around with their gadgets. A number of Namibians simply enjoyed the entertainment, while others became entertainers.
some young Namibians used this chance to build their brands and make extra money through their radiant personalities and vibes.
This is usually done by promoting different brands or businesses on their pages which they charge for.
Jamie-Lee Otti Loss, a first-year student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, has become a public figure as a result of her TikTok content.
“This has been a great platform that allowed me to connect with different people all around the world. It provided me with so much exposure that has financially opened doors for me,” she says.
However, TikTok fame comes with negative comments and criticism. She deals with it by ignoring criticism that is not constructive.
She essentially focuses on dance videos from a number of genres, such as amapiano, hip-hop and oviritje.
Her vibrant energy and captivating personality has garnered her over 100 000 views on TikTok.
Caitlin Theron (18) also has a passion for dancing and the entertainment industry. She, however, had a different approach to the app.
Unlike many who discovered the app through entertainment, Theron started making TikTok clips as she was in a dark place as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. She decided to use the platform to express her unsaid emotions. Since then, TikTok has been providing Theron with an opportunity to fully express herself as she truly desires to do, she says. “I see myself becoming a TikTok promoter and giving more meaning to dance and singing. I believe it is so much more than simply moving your body. It is also standing together and motivating each other to pursue our dreams.”
Junior Katoma, also known as Juju K, started his TikTok journey just six months ago and has already amassed
88 200 followers on the app. Katoma broke the internet with a dance video to the sound of C20, with approximately 500 likes.
He loves TikTok as he believes it is an opportunity for young Namibians to encourage and push each other to make a name for themselves. “People think TikTok is a place where you could easily blow up, however, it is not that easy. It requires determination and consistency for your content to blow up,” he says.
While many people think TikTok is childish, it is actually a platform that can easily become an extra source of income, he says. Katoma aims to reach one million followers in the next three years, and to become one of the first verified Namibian TikTokkers. “This widely popular app has been seen as a safe haven for several young entertainers. It has provided a platform for many young Namibians to showcase their talent and network with each other,” says Janet Mbabi (19), who is a huge fan of TikTok
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