Wode Maya
{{Short description|Ghanaian YouTuber (born 1990)}}
{{Duplicated citations|reason=DuplicateReferences detected:
- https://face2faceafrica.com/article/meet-wode-maya-the-top-ghanaian-youtuber-who-quit-his-aeronautical-engineering-job-to-tell-the-african-story (refs: 6, 17)
|date=May 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name = Wode Maya
| image = Wode Maya at Ham's Residence.jpg
| caption = Wode Maya in 2023
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|03|03}}
| birth_place = Ahekofi, Ghana
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = Shenyang Aerospace University
| occupation = YouTuber
| spouse = Miss Trudy
| children =
| website = {{URL|https://wodemaya.me/}}
| channel_handle = WODEMAYA
| channel_display_name = Wode Maya
| years active = 2013–present
| subscribers = 1.73 million
| views = 274 million
| silver_year = 2019
| gold_year = 2021
| stats_update = May 4, 2025
}}
Berthold Kobby Winkler Ackon (born March 3, 1990), popularly known as Wode Maya,{{Cite web|title=Berthold Kobby Winkler - ZionFelix.net|url=https://zionfelix.net/tag/berthold-kobby-winkler/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=en-US}} is a Ghanaian YouTube personality, vlogger,{{Cite web|title=Namibian YouTubers unite|url=https://neweralive.na/index.php/os/posts/namibian-youtubers-unite|access-date=2021-12-20|website=Truth, for its own sake.|language=os}} digital media influencer,{{Cite web|date=2021-10-06|title=Wode Maya's Visit to South Sudan|url=https://goodvibesmag.com/wode-maya/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Good Vibes Magazine|language=en-US}} and aeronautical engineer.{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Monique|date=2021-01-11|title=Courage to Love All Things Africa: Wode Maya Youtube Channel|url=https://clearcommunicationsolutions.com/courage-to-love-all-things-africa-despite-the-odds/|access-date=2021-12-20|website=Monique Russell, Executive Communication Coach|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Meet Wode Maya, the top Ghanaian YouTuber who quit his aeronautical engineering job to tell the African story|url=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/meet-wode-maya-the-top-ghanaian-youtuber-who-quit-his-aeronautical-engineering-job-to-tell-the-african-story|access-date=2021-12-20|website=Face2Face Africa|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Akpeko|first=Wodoto Lawson|date=2021-11-24|title=READ : Vlogger Wode Maya sends a message to President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo|url=https://coverghana.com.gh/read-vlogger-wode-maya-sends-a-message-to-president-nana-addo-dankwa-akufo-addo/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Coverghana.com.gh}} His name Wode Maya (Wǒ de Mà yà) translates to Oh My God in the Chinese language.{{Cite web|last=Kane|first=Dane|date=2021-03-18|title=Wode Maya Surpases Ghanaian Rapper Sarkodie To Become The Most Subscribed YouTube Channel In Ghana » Newzandar News|url=https://newzandar.com/nigeria-news/wode-maya-surpases-ghanaian-rapper-sarkodie-to-become-the-most-subscribed-youtube-channel-in-ghana/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Newzandar News|language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=March 2025}} In 2017, he took a video in a bus where seats were empty beside him and other passengers stood due to his skin colour and the video went viral.{{Cite web|last=Mullin|first=Kyle|date=2017-05-23|title=Controversial Ghanaian Vlogger Mr. Wode Maya Speaks About the "Problems Black People Face in China"|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2017/05/22/problems-black-people-face-china-qa-controversial-vlogger-mr-wode-maya|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.thebeijinger.com|language=EN}} He is acclaimed to be one of the top and most Influential YouTubers in Africa.{{Cite web |title=WODE MAYA |url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClwrpH_Np9zk8uMwnMwu8Nw |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=YouTube |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Ghanaians Didn't Accept Me - Wode Maya Shares Journey On Becoming One Of The Most Influential YouTubers In Africa - Ameyaw Debrah|url=https://ameyawdebrah.com/i-was-not-recognised-in-ghana-wode-maya/|date=July 15, 2021|access-date=2021-12-21|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-07-15|title=Ghana Tourism Authority ignored me in the past but now they are chasing me all over- Wode Maya|url=https://news.hitxgh.com/ghana-tourism-authority-ignored-me-in-the-past-but-now-they-are-chasing-me-all-over-wode-maya/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=HitzGh News|language=en-US|archive-date=December 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221004647/https://news.hitxgh.com/ghana-tourism-authority-ignored-me-in-the-past-but-now-they-are-chasing-me-all-over-wode-maya/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Mr. Akwasi Awua Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs Meets with Africa's Most Influential Youtuber, Wode Maya – DIASPORA AFFAIRS, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT|url=https://diasporaaffairs.gov.gh/2021/07/06/mr-akwasi-awua-ababio-meets-with-africas-most-popular-youtuber-wode-maya/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Namibian |first=The |title=Content creator Wode Maya returns to Namibia |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=archive-read&id=6226012 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=The Namibian |language=en}}
Early life and education
Wode Maya is from Ahekofi, Kofikrom, a town in the Western region of Ghana.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Meet the Ghanaian YouTuber who quit his aeronautical engineering job to tell the African story|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Meet-the-Ghanaian-YouTuber-who-quit-his-aeronautical-engineering-job-to-tell-the-African-story-1094440|access-date=2021-12-21|website=GhanaWeb|language=en}} He attended the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU).{{Cite web|title=Love Made On YouTube! How An Unromantic Wode Maya Won The Heart Of Miss Trudy With Flowers - Ameyaw Debrah|url=https://ameyawdebrah.com/love-made-on-youtube-how-wode-maya-won-the-heart-of-miss-trudy-with-flowers/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Meet Wode Maya, the top Ghanaian YouTuber who quit his aeronautical engineering job to tell the African story|url=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/meet-wode-maya-the-top-ghanaian-youtuber-who-quit-his-aeronautical-engineering-job-to-tell-the-african-story|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Face2Face Africa|language=en}}
Career
He was still a student when he started vlogging in China about his experiences and later quit his job as an aeronautical engineer.{{Cite web|last=Legit.ng|date=2020-10-28|title=Man who quit aeronautical engineering job becomes much celebrated YouTuber|url=https://www.legit.ng/1378739-african-man-quit-aeronautical-engineering-job-youtuber.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news.|language=en|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628070136/https://www.legit.ng/1378739-african-man-quit-aeronautical-engineering-job-youtuber.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=2021-11-22|title=Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya shares story of how it all began|url=https://asaaseradio.com/ghanaian-youtuber-wode-maya-shares-story-of-how-it-all-began/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Asaase Radio|language=en-US}} His moniker Wode Maya comes from the Mandarin expression wǒ de mā ya (我的妈呀, lit. "Oh, my mom!"), which is an interjection that roughly equates to English "Oh my god!" In December 2021, he started his own real estate company and said it will be known as 'CHARLIEMAG Estate' located in East Legon.{{Cite web|date=2021-12-06|title=Popular YouTuber, Wode Maya Starts His Own Real Estate Construction (Photos) - ZionFelix.net|url=https://zionfelix.net/africas-biggest-youtuber-wode-maya-starts-his-own-real-estate-construction-photos/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=en-US}} He was one of six prominent YouTubers from around the world invited to cover the annual conference of the World Economic Forum in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Meet the YouTube creators covering Davos 2023 from the inside |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/davos-2023-youtube-creators-covering-wef23/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=World Economic Forum |date=January 15, 2023 |language=en}} He was also invited to cover the 2023 Munich Security Conference.{{Cite web |title=The YouTube Studio Creators and Christoph Heusgen - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/medialibrary/asset/the-youtube-studio-creators-and-christoph-heusgen-20230222-1324/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}
Personal life
Wode Maya is married to Miss Trudy, a Kenyan YouTuber.{{cite web | url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Wode-Maya-marries-longtime-girlfriend-on-the-deathday-of-her-mother-1623209 | title=Wode Maya marries longtime girlfriend on the deathday of her mother | work=GhanaWeb | date=September 14, 2022 }}{{cite web|first=Justus Kizito Siboe |last=Makokha|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/books/2023-02-25-month-wherein-black-pride-is-vlogged/ |title=Month wherein black pride is vlogged|newspaper=The Star|date= 25 February 2023}}
Philanthropy
Wode Maya donated roughly $10,000 for a dumpsite to be transformed into a park after being inspired by a man in Kwahu.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Wode Maya: Current biggest Ghanaian youtuber donates over Ghc 59,000 to keep 100 kids in school|url=https://myinfo.com.gh/2021/07/wode-maya-current-biggest-ghanaian-youtuber-donates-over-ghc-59000-to-keep-100-kids-in-school/|access-date=2021-12-20|website=myinfo.com.gh|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=TSB News|date=2021-07-24|title=Ghanaian Youtuber, Wode Maya Donates N4m To Keep 100 Kids In School {{!}} tsbnews.com|url=https://tsbnews.com/2021/07/ghanaian-youtuber-wode-maya-donates-n4m-to-keep-100-kids-in-school/|access-date=2021-12-21|language=en-US}} In 2021, he helped raise $10,000 to cater to the educational needs of one-hundred children. He claimed it was more than a donation and called on others to take up such deeds.{{Cite web|last=Tuko.co.ke|date=2021-07-20|title=YouTuber Wode Maya donates over KSh 1 million to keep 100 kids in school|url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/419300-wode-maya-current-biggest-ghanaian-youtuber-donates-ghc-59000-100-kids-school.html|access-date=2021-12-20|website=Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news.|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Popular Ghanaian YouTuber, Wode Maya Donates over Ghc 59,000 to keep 100 kids in School - Video|date=July 19, 2021 |url=https://bestshowbiz.com/popular-ghanaian-youtuber-wode-maya-donates-over-ghc-59000-to-keep-100-kids-in-school-video/|access-date=2021-12-20|language=en-US}}
Accolades
Wode Maya won Online Creator of the Year at the 2022 Entertainment Achievement Awards.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-27 |title=Full list of winners at 2022 Entertainment Achievement Awards |url=https://citinewsroom.com/2022/02/full-list-of-winners-at-2022-entertainment-achievement-awards/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana |language=en-US}}