This archive report was first published on 4 July 2021.
On a sunny Saturday, Bobby Junior is busy filming for his YouTube channel, East Meets West. With a passion for storytelling and a knack for creating engaging content, Bobby has made a name for himself in the film industry.
With a career spanning four years, Bobby has won numerous awards, including the Kalasha Award in 2018 for Best Documentary by a Student. He has also placed fourth in Africa and 20th globally in the Lorenzo Natali Media Awards.
So, what drives Bobby's success? According to him, it's the influence of his team at East Meets West and other like-minded individuals he's met along the way. 'People that I work with play a huge influence, particularly East meets West as well as other influencers I've met who've played an important role,' he says.
When it comes to creating content, Bobby emphasizes the importance of research and collaboration. 'Sasha and Ibra are my go-to content creators for research when brainstorming for a new episode,' he reveals. 'We normally sit down and throw ideas together to see which fits.'
Despite his success, Bobby acknowledges that failures are an inevitable part of the creative process. 'Well, that happens a lot because luckily when you're on set you can 'feel' it,' he says. 'Kuna video zenye hukataa kuwork kabisa so you just toss it out.'
As a content creator, Bobby prioritizes his audience's needs and preferences. 'It's pretty much up to you and your mental state,' he advises. 'At times we end up sharing pieces of our lives and the audience feel like they know you and they feel possessive about you and your life.'
Despite the challenges, Bobby finds solace in the love and support of his audience. 'The love from our audience keeps us going,' he says. 'When starting out, I was in a depressed place. So when someone says that a particular episode helps them get out of a funk, it keeps me going.'
