Social media is the best place to connect, interact with celebrities and is an excellent tool for influencing change. There are a number of people who claim to influence and make change but not all social media influencers are equal.
How social media has changed marketing and branding today
Social media influence has revolutionized marketing leading to a quantum leap in advertising and branding. The meteoric rise of social media influencers has improved information networks between fans and brands in the last ten years.
How social media influencers control the narrative
Influencers act as change agents. For example, the “black lives matter” movement in the US or the “End SARS” brigade in Nigeria made tremendous progress because of the backing of social media influencers. These individuals usually have a massive following on social platforms such as Facebook (Meta), Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, making them evangelists for social reforms, sought-after brand ambassadors, and trend-setters.
Who are the social media influencers?
Influencers operate on a spectrum and include socialites, actors, comedians, musicians, athletes, flamboyant politicians, media, and business personalities.
*In Ghana there a number of key people who through their combined Instagram and Twitter accounts have more followers than the Ghana population of 32 million.
Check out this list of some of Ghana’s social media top honchos
Michael Blackson
A comedian and actor par excellence, Michael has a whopping 5.3M followers on Instagram (@michaelblackson). Born in Ghana but relocated to the US at age 13, Michael still treasures and endorses his Ghanaian roots. Having starred in a Dave Chapelle commercial and appeared in P.Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy, there is no denying that Michael enjoys a considerable following both home and abroad.
Mrs. Nana Ama Mcbrown Mensah
Mrs. Nana wears different creative hats, an actress, a songwriter, and a TV presenter. Her claim to fame was the role she meticulously played in the TV series Tentacles. Nana commands social media respect on account of the 4.7M followers on Instagram (@iamamamcbrown). Nana’s social media influence has earned her the COVID-19 National Trust Fund ambassadorship.
Mona Montrage
Mona is a Ghanaian artist based in the United States whose endearing personality and lifestyle have maintained a solid fan base in Ghana. Mona’s (@Hajia4reall) Instagram followers stand at 3.4Mand it is easy to see how her killer physique, music, and businesses continue to attract fans.
MzVee
Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda, aka MzVee, is a singer known for the song “Natural Girl,” which earned her profound fame and awards in tandem. Her 2017-2019 hiatus sparked controversial sentiments, but when she came back to the social scene, it was as if she never left, owing to the 3.3M Instagram followers as evidence.
Fella Makafui
Fella, popularly known as The King of Queens, is a 26-year-old actress and business mogul whose acting track record is awe-inspiring. Fella’s Instagram following sits at 3.6M, and the nature and scope of her work arguably make her one of the youngest social media influencers.
Lil Win
Kwadwo Nkansah, aka @officialLilWin, is a versatile artist with 2.9M followers on Instagram. His undeniable success despite having a meager education is the impetus for the vast following. There is no doubt that Lil Win’s work speaks for itself, and achievements such as the honor by the United Nations for his campaigns against illegal immigration have earned him more social media bonus points
Medikal
Born Samuel Adu Frimpong, Medikal is a rapper whose musical achievements can be compared to Sarkodie’s. Medikal’s artistic agility and creative genius have seen him team up with successful musicians that have helped propel his career, earning him 2.7M followers. Being married to movie star Fella Makafui has made both their brands more popular
D-Black
Desmond Kwesi Blackmore, aka D-Black, The Enjoyment Minister, is an entrepreneur and Afrobeat Musician named by Forbes in 2019 as one of Ghana’s most successful music moguls. D-Black owns a series of business ventures, and his genius in the numbers game vindicates his unique skills putting him at 2M followers on Instagram
Ghana has a host of other social media influencers like bloggers and athletes whose social platforms continue to inspire change, incite meaningful conversations, share information, and champion change. Just as in warfare, strategists prevail over tacticians, and social media influencers are the perfect organic strategists for shaping and changing narratives.
Author: Raychelle Masakha
Experienced content writer from Nairobi loving everything Africa, bringing content to life