Speaking at a creator workshop in Mbabane, ICT Minister Savannah Maziya described the development as a significant milestone for the country’s digital economy, opening doors for young creatives to turn their content into sustainable income while creating new opportunities for growth and innovation.
Eswatini content creators have received a major boost following the announcement that TikTok is opening monetization opportunities for creators in the country, creating new pathways for young people to earn income through digital content creation.
The announcement was made by Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, Savannah Maziya, during the TikTok Content Monetization Workshop held at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Auditorium under the theme, “Unlocking Opportunities Within the Eswatini Creator Economy.”
Speaking at the event, Maziya described the development as a breakthrough for the country’s youth and creative sector, saying it opens new pathways for income generation and entrepreneurship in an increasingly digital world.
“I can tell them that actually we are able to monetize Eswatini today,” Maziya told participants, revealing that TikTok had officially opened the door for local creators to earn revenue through the platform.
The Minister said the move was the result of months of engagement between government and TikTok, driven by a desire to ensure that Eswatini’s creators are not left behind as the global digital economy continues to expand.
“The careers we had before are no longer the careers we’re going to have in the future. We need to prepare our people and our youth for those careers and businesses,” she said.
She encouraged participants to view content creation as a legitimate business venture rather than merely a social activity, stressing the need for professionalism, responsibility and continuous learning.
“This is the time for new careers. This is the time for Eswatini to lead. This is the time for our young people to make money and be fully employed as business people,” she said.
TikTok’s Head of Government Relations and Public Policy for Southern Africa, Tholoana Ncheke Mahlaela, emphasized that successful monetization begins with understanding the platform, developing the right skills and creating content that complies with community guidelines.
She said TikTok provides creators with the opportunity to compete on a global stage, but success depends on producing responsible and high-quality content.
“As a platform, we give you the opportunity to be global competitors and global users, but it all starts with ensuring that the content you create falls within the guidelines of our platform,” Mahlaela said.
She added that creators carry a collective responsibility regarding the type of content they share and encouraged participants to use the workshop to better understand both the opportunities and obligations that come with being digital creators.
Mahlaela described the workshop as the beginning of a long-term partnership between TikTok and Eswatini’s creator community rather than a once-off engagement.
“This really is the beginning of looking at how we can connect as we work together and empower each other to grow in the creative space,” she said.
The workshop included masterclasses focused on content creation, audience growth strategies, platform policies and monetization opportunities available to creators. Participants were also introduced to practical tools and techniques aimed at helping them build sustainable digital businesses.
Maziya revealed that discussions are also underway with other major digital platforms, including Meta and YouTube, to explore additional monetization opportunities for Eswatini creators.
