TikTok Names Lagos Doctor, Four Other Africans On Discover List 2026

TikTok has named five Sub-Saharan African creators on its global The Discover List 2026, with Nigeria represented by Lagos-based medical doctor Olawale Ogunlana, known on the platform as @doctorwalesmd.

The company said the annual list highlights 50 creators worldwide across five groups: Icons, Innovators, Foodies, Educators and Originators. The African honourees come from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, reflecting the region’s rising influence in online culture, food storytelling, health communication and digital business.

TikTok said this year’s list also connects to a live culinary event in New York titled Hot List x Discover List: The Future of Flavor, organised with Food Network. The broadcast was scheduled for 5:30 PM ET on Thursday, 26 February, which corresponds to 1:30 AM EAT, 11:30 PM WAT and 12:30 AM Saturday in some African time zones.

Among the creators expected at the event are Trevor Were of Nairobi, Kenya (@saute_with_trevor), and Wayne Chang of Cape Town, South Africa (@munchin_mash), both recognised in the Foodies category. TikTok said the programme would be streamed live on @tiktok and would feature Discover List alum @violetwitchel cooking with Food Network chef Esther Choi (@choibites).

Explaining the broader selection, James Stafford, Global Head of Content Operations at TikTok, said: “At TikTok we are committed to celebrating our inspiring creator community. Today we are thrilled to unveil The Discover List 2026 — a highlight of 50 creators to watch from around the world.” He added that the platform remains a space where “new talent can be discovered and authenticity and creativity can thrive.”

For Nigeria, attention is on Ogunlana, who uses short-form videos to explain health topics to the public. TikTok described him as a medical doctor and founder of HealthKraft Africa, and also one of its Sub-Saharan Wellbeing Ambassadors. In his response to the recognition, Ogunlana said the listing points to the value of digital health education beyond hospital walls.

He said: “For a long time, a doctor’s impact was limited to the four walls of a clinic. Being recognized on the TikTok Discover List is an incredible honor that extends beyond personal recognition; it is a validation of the power of ‘edutainment’ while serving as proof that the screen has become the modern stethoscope, enabling us to reach, educate, and heal millions simultaneously.”

Beyond Nigeria, other African names on the list include Cherie Kihato of Nairobi (@cheriekihato), founder of Savannah Space, and Tamia Nontsikelelo of Johannesburg (@tolthema), who uses TikTok to build audience engagement around her fashion brand. Both were listed in the Originators category.

Kihato said the nomination signals that African creators and brands are being noticed globally, while Nontsikelelo said TikTok exposure helped her scale from a small business into a team operation.

Wayne Chang, one of the Foodies honourees, said participation in the New York event gives creators another route to share their craft with people who care about food content. Trevor Were described his nomination as a major personal milestone, saying his kitchen-based content has opened doors to wider recognition and brand collaborations.

TikTok said The Discover List 2026 was produced through a global nomination process and judged on creator activity over the past six months, including video output, views, audience growth, engagement and work that sparked conversations.

The company also pointed to momentum from 2025, when Sub-Saharan African creators first appeared on the list and later gained international attention, including coverage in TIME Magazine and participation at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

One example cited was Ghana’s Chef Abby (Abena Amoakoaa Sintim-Aboagye), who engaged with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and the Mayor of London at Cannes Lions, and was later named First Runner-Up in the Food Creator of the Year category at the 2025 TikTok Awards in Sub-Saharan Africa.

With Ogunlana’s inclusion this year, Nigeria’s representation now extends from entertainment and lifestyle content into public-facing health education, reinforcing how local professionals are using global platforms to build trust, audience and measurable social impact.