Nigeria, Dec. 23 -- Two weeks after attending the TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa in Johannesburg, one impression has lingered: content creation on the continent is no longer a fringe activity or a passing trend.

It has become a significant cultural and economic force, bringing together entertainers, professionals, brands, and audiences in ways that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago.

The annual awards ceremony, which celebrated some of Africa's most influential creators, was filled with the usual pageantry, red carpets, performances and celebrity appearances. Yet, beyond the glamour, the event offered a glimpse into how platforms like TikTok are reshaping how Nigerians and other Africans share knowledge, earn an income, a...