MTC awards champion Namibia’s content creators

The MTC Content Creators Awards will take place on 28 November at Mövenpick Hotel in Windhoek, with a content creators workshop scheduled for Saturday, 14 November, to help local creators turn their passion into sustainable careers.

Kamaaizemi ‘KP Illest’ Hoveka, the awards’ public relations representative, said the initiative aims to make content creation a recognised profession in Namibia. “Our vision is to establish content creation as a recognised and sustainable profession in Namibia,” Hoveka told tjil. This year’s theme, 'From Passion to Profession', reflects the organisers’ commitment to helping creators turn their creativity and influence into meaningful careers. “We want to build an industry where creators are recognised not only for entertaining audiences but also for their contribution to Namibia’s creative economy,” he said.

New categories - The third edition will introduce three new categories, bringing the total to 24 award categories recognising talent across different creative fields.

Hoveka said the awards are also focused on encouraging creators to develop their skills and approach content creation professionally. “The awards go beyond popularity and the number of followers a creator has,” he explained. Through workshops and industry engagements, organisers aim to equip creators with the skills needed to develop their brands, produce quality content, understand monetisation and build sustainable relationships with businesses. “We want creators to understand that content creation is not simply about gaining followers but about building a community that enables them to establish a credible and sustainable profession,” Hoveka said.

Opening doors to the future - The awards also aim to connect creators with corporate brands, marketing agencies, media organisations and potential collaborators.

“Recognition through nominations and awards increases creators’ credibility and opens doors to commercial partnerships,” he said. Hoveka added that creators would also have opportunities to connect with sponsors of their respective categories, potentially creating further collaborations.

Learning beyond borders - A major highlight of this year's programme is the content creators workshop, featuring South African content creator Sphokuhle, known as Scrumptious.

Hoveka said she was selected because of her experience in building a digital presence, developing personal brands and securing brand deals. “We specifically selected her for her knowledge and experience in securing brand deals,” he said. He added that her experience could help address some of the monetisation challenges faced by Namibian creatives. “Given the monetisation challenges Namibian creatives face, she is uniquely positioned to provide valuable insights into how creators can turn their platforms into sustainable sources of income,” Hoveka said.

The workshop will cover content creation techniques, personal branding, equipment, technology, editing, post-production, monetisation and partnerships.

Participants will also explore whether brand deals are the only way Namibian content creators can make money, with discussions focusing on alternative revenue opportunities. Hoveka said learning from international creators could expose local talent to different techniques, industry standards and commercial opportunities.

However, he stressed that the intention was not for Namibian creators to copy international personalities. “Our objective is not for Namibian creators to imitate international personalities but rather to combine global knowledge with their own authentic Namibian stories and identities,” he said. Ultimately, organisers hope participants will improve their production standards, build stronger brands and develop meaningful collaborations. “More importantly, we want them to realise that content creation can be a sustainable career capable of generating income, creating employment and contributing to Namibia’s economy,” Hoveka said.