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SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS

Senegalese-born superstar Khabe Lamy is now TikTok’s biggest name

By our News Team | 2022

Journey from unemployed factory worker to the most popular personality on TikTok with more than 146-million followers.

Khaby Lame, the Senegalese-born TikTok megastar and social media influencer, last month became the most popular personality on the rapidly growing channel by overtaking dance video star Charli D’Amelio. 

As of today (Tuesday) Lame has 146.4-million followers on TikTok. D’Amelio, on the other hand, has 143.8-million followers.

Lamy trailed D’Amelio, who was the first person to pass 100-million followers on TikTok, until late June when he surpassed her 142.3 million followers. He has since sprinted ahead.

According to Forbes business magazine, D’Amelio and her sister Dixie – who is also a TikTok dance celebrity – banked an estimated US$27.5-million in 2021. This means Lame must now be well and truly in the money as a global influencer.

Social Media Influencers

Photo of Khaby Lame courtesy of Hugo Boss

From unemployed factory worker to superstar

Lame, aged 22, moved to Italy from Senegal as a one-year-old and still lives there. He was reportedly a factory worker until the pandemic struck and he lost his job. He then turned to making short, self-depreciating, comic videos.

With his big eyes and funny facial expressions, he proved the perfect foil for his videos which silently mock overly complicated life-hack videos and make fun out of everyday situations. “It’s my face and my expressions which make people laugh,” he told The New York Times in 2021.

Lamy has fan pages around the world and has done high-profile brand ambassador work for the likes of Pepsi and Hugo Boss. The latter is in the midst of a major rebranding exercise and has also signed up reality TV star Kendall Jenner of Kardashians fame, and Hailey Beiber, American model and wife of musician Justin Beiber.

Popular among younger audiences – including the sought-after Gen Z grouping defined by Pew Research as those born after 1996 – the TikTok app allows users to express their creativity and showcase relatable everyday content through short videos that are between 15 seconds and three-minutes long.

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Dr Kin Kariisa

Group CEO - Next Media

Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.