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The German Africa Foundation is awarding this year's honorary prize to "Afrofluencer" Stève Hiobi. The foundation explained that Hiobi, a native of Cameroon, has been working for years on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to promote a nuanced portrayal of Africa and a fact-based discussion of the African continent. Hiobi's work makes an important contribution to breaking down stereotypes and fostering a more realistic perception of Africa in Germany. "By clearly communicating historical, political, and social contexts, he makes the diversity of the African continent accessible to a broad audience and sparks interest in a deeper engagement with Africa," explained Uschi Eid, President of the German Africa Foundation, in a press release. The award will be presented on June 24 in Berlin.

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In his posts under the name "@deinbrudersteve", Hiobi primarily aims to reach a younger audience, addressing topics such as migration, democracy, the World Cup in the USA, German influence in Africa, or taking viewers along on a family trip to Cameroon. In a lighthearted way, he tries to break down common prejudices and challenge clichés (“and yes, there are supermarkets in Africa”), thereby gaining a growing fan base. He already has 150,000 followers on Instagram.

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As an influencer, he says he wants to encourage people in Germany to engage more with the African continent. In 2023, he received the prestigious Grimme Online Award for his commitment, which is presented for outstanding German online content. His book "All about Africa: What you should know about the continent" became a Spiegel bestseller. Hiobi came to Germany with his parents at the age of four; the 40-year-old works as an IT consultant in his main profession. The German Africa Foundation is a non-partisan organization. It aims to promote exchange between Germany and the African continent and is supported by funds from the Federal Foreign Office. ‍

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