Charity has built a community of over three million on TikTok by tackling these misconceptions with humour and clarity, dismantling stereotypes about Africa and its people in a way that is entertaining and educational.
In an interview with Technext, she candidly discusses the period she went through massive depression, where even eating regularly was a challenge, and she weighed as little as 44 kg as an adult.
Despite being a graduate, her prospects were limited, and she felt lost. The pandemic lockdowns only added to her struggles, yet it was during this time that TikTok emerged as an unexpected lifeline.
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Charity Ekezie’s beginning as a creator on TikTok
Like many others, Charity was drawn to the platform during the 2020 lockdowns. Having dabbled in content creation on other platforms, she was familiar with the process, but TikTok’s format and algorithm were different—and powerful.
Recognising this potential, she continued on TikTok, starting with skits and lighthearted videos.
However, as a trained journalist, Charity had a knack for truth-telling and was increasingly drawn to using her voice to challenge stereotypes about Africa. She decided to take on the stereotypes head-on, bringing a journalist’s clarity and a comedian’s wit to her videos.
Charity’s approach to creating content about African stereotypes struck a nerve. Instead of tackling misconceptions with anger or frustration, she used sarcasm and humour.
This approach, as she describes, was exactly like how Africans react to questions or statements that sound out of place.
Charity Ekezie’s presence on TikTok brought her success and connected her with audiences far beyond Nigeria. She’s particularly proud that her videos reach a global audience, with most of her fans residing outside of Africa in countries like the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany, India and even the Philippines.
On being named one of the 50 Global TikTok Change Makers
As part of TikTok’s Change Makers Programme, Charity’s impactful work is being honoured with a $25,000 donation to Paradigm Initiative, an organization dedicated to advancing digital rights and inclusion in Nigeria.
This contribution is part of the TikTok Change Makers Grant, which allocates over $1 million to more than 30 global and local non-profits addressing critical causes.
Through her partnership with TikTok, Charity is empowered to deepen her mission of challenging stereotypes and tangibly advocating for young Nigerians.
Challenges and opportunities
Looking forward, Charity hopes to collaborate with other creators who share her focus on African content, though she acknowledges that her niche is unique. She’s particularly interested in working with a Congolese TikToker based in South Africa whose content also centres on Africa and the African experience, a partnership that she believes would amplify their shared mission of putting Africa on the global map.