Content creator attributes growth to TikTok algorithm after rise

A 27-year-old content creator, Aboor Abraham Ayaau Riak, popularly known as Yagga, has risen to prominence on TikTok, amassing over 1.2 million followers within five years on the platform. Yagga attributed his rapid growth to TikTok’s algorithm, which he said allows content to reach wide audiences regardless of a creator’s initial following. He recalled gaining […]

A 27-year-old content creator, Aboor Abraham Ayaau Riak, popularly known as Yagga, has risen to prominence on TikTok, amassing over 1.2 million followers within five years on the platform.

Yagga attributed his rapid growth to TikTok’s algorithm, which he said allows content to reach wide audiences regardless of a creator’s initial following. He recalled gaining nearly 1,000 likes within two days when he had just 20 followers, describing the experience as unexpected.

Since he began posting content in 2020, the South Sudanese-born creator recorded significant growth, gaining over 200,000 followers in 2021 alone.

He noted that his rising popularity has led to interactions with established creators, including some he previously followed.

Despite his online success, Yagga said content creation is not his primary occupation, as he works in the finance sector during the week and produces videos mostly on weekends.

Originally from Nimule in South Sudan, Yagga has lived in Kampala, Uganda, and Nairobi, Kenya, where he was also raised.

He expressed relief over TikTok’s continued operations amid past concerns about potential restrictions, noting that the uncertainty coincided with a critical period of growth for his account.

Yagga also disclosed that he previously lost an account with 1.2 million followers, describing the experience as a setback he hopes to avoid in the future.

He maintained that TikTok provides opportunities for creative individuals to gain visibility and said he remains optimistic about expanding his presence as a content creator.