Ethiopian content creator and influencer Soliyana Nigussie is steadily building her name in Uganda, using humour, relatable videos and creative storytelling to connect with audiences beyond her home country.
Four years into her content creation journey, the digital personality known online as @Soliyana81 is embracing Uganda as the base for her creative ambitions, with plans to expand her influence across East Africa.
Although she originally started making videos for fun, Soliyana says her journey gradually developed into something bigger after she began posting on TikTok.
Before joining the platform, she enjoyed recording videos for her own entertainment and sharing them with friends. Once she started posting consistently, she experimented with different content styles before discovering a particular interest in funny skits, especially those centred on food.
“My creativity is a mix of humor and relatability,” she explained. “I mostly adapt trending videos and ideas to fit my personality and style, adding my own twist to make them funny, entertaining, and relatable.”
Why Uganda became home
Soliyana’s connection with Uganda began with a visit. However, the experience left such a strong impression that she eventually decided to return and make the country her home.
She says the culture, people and overall experience influenced that decision, while living in Uganda has exposed her to different perspectives, creative opportunities and a new audience.
Interestingly, she says most of her experience as a content creator has been built in Uganda rather than Ethiopia. She began creating content consistently after relocating, meaning she has had limited exposure to Ethiopia’s digital creator landscape.
Her observations about the two audiences have also influenced how she approaches content.
According to Soliyana, Ugandan followers tend to receive her humorous videos more openly, while some Ethiopian viewers occasionally interpret entertainment content more seriously than she intends.
She says she sometimes has to explain that certain videos are simply created to entertain and make people laugh.
The challenges behind the content
Despite enjoying her experience in Uganda, building a content brand in a different environment has not been without challenges.
One of her biggest concerns is filming outdoors using her phone because of the risk of phone theft.
She says the concern sometimes limits her freedom to capture spontaneous street moments, an important part of creating engaging social media content.
Still, Soliyana believes the positive side of her experience outweighs the difficulties.
She credits Ugandans’ friendliness, humour and interactions with her content for encouraging her to experiment with new ideas.
She also draws inspiration from local creators, mentioning Tenge Tenege, Ghetto Kids and Brennan among the personalities whose creativity she admires.
Building beyond social media
When it comes to staying relevant in the fast-moving digital space, Soliyana says she prefers being selective rather than chasing every trending idea.
She tries to keep up with social media trends and adapt those that fit her personality, while prioritising consistency, creativity and enjoying the process.
Her content also relies heavily on visual communication rather than spoken storytelling, allowing her to share emotions and ideas that audiences from different cultural backgrounds can understand.
Looking ahead, she wants to grow her brand across East Africa, collaborate with more creators and brands, and use her platform to inspire others.
Her advice to African creators hoping to expand into new markets is to remain open-minded, embrace different cultures, stay consistent and step outside their comfort zones.
Ultimately, Soliyana wants to be remembered as more than an entertainer on a phone screen.
She hopes to be recognised as an authentic Ethiopian creative who used her talent to connect cultures, break barriers and bring people together.
“Your creativity has no boundaries!” she says.
Quick Profile: Soliyana Nigussie
- Real name: Soliyana Nigussie
- Brand name: @Soliyana81
- Date of birth: August 29, 1999
- Nationality: Ethiopian
- Career: Influencer, content creator and small business owner
- Years active: Since 2022