Life can be full of blows, and at times happy moments can overcloud us to the point of taking us to our ‘heaven.’ The latter isn’t the case for Berthold Winkers, famously known as Wode Maya, having passed through tough times while studying in China. The beautiful part of this Yin Yan kind of life is what you make of the situations you pass through daily. Let us look at how a Ghanian man turned things around to be an internet sensation changing the African narrative and minds of young individuals in Africa and beyond.
Berthold Winkler’s story, alias Wode Maya, is yet another narrative revolving around racial discrimination. Wode Maya is a famous aeronautical engineer and a media influencer. He was born and bred in Ahekofi, Ghana, and later pursued higher education in China at Shenyang Aerospace University.
Though originally from a humble background, Maya has grown to become a respectable outspoken man, with life only many can dream of.
The Early Life of Wode Maya
During Maya’s childhood, he would often work odd jobs to make ends meet. He attended his primary and secondary education in Ghana, after which he landed a scholarship to study abroad. However, his dream of studying in the United Kingdom hit a brick wall when the embassy denied him a visa.
Driven by determination and zeal to succeed, the young man left for China, where he was admitted to the Shenyang Aerospace University to study Aeronautical Engineering. While in China, Maya started his YouTube channel. He had dabbed it, mrghanababy. Occasionally he would post videos of his experience in the country. It was not long before he gained numerous followers; his subscribers had grown in numbers as he was getting millions of views. He was making easy money from the comfort of his home.
“Digital content creation is something very lucrative, and it’s something I think it’s worth more than being an engineer, being a doctor, being a pilot,” he said.
“People tell me to go and look for a job. ‘Why are you in front of the camera?’ I just wanna tell people out there that I can employ you, let you stay in your room, and then pay you every month.”
Does Wode have a Wife?
Well, not much is known about Maya’s wife, as it appears the young man is unmarried. Nevertheless, in the past, sources have sported him in different countries kissing several girls. Hence the speculation of him dating.
During an interview with African Tigress in 2019, Maya and Miss Trudy ( a Kenyan YouTuber) confirmed that they were in a relationship. Since then, the two have been enjoying a great time together, touring the African continent.
Maya’s Net worth
Maya received his breakthrough when he captured the international audience’s attention through his high content videos about his experience in China. To date, he visits various countries in Africa, vlogging about their social scene, culture, and travel experience. As a popular Youtuber, Maya earns an average amount of $ 2000, and his net worth is estimated to be between 34000 to 205000 dollars.
Wode Maya’s Experience in China
Maya narrates that his worst moments were the anti-black discrimination during his six years of stay in China. It all started after the completion of his course. He had finished his engineering program with the expectations of landing a well-paying job.
Often, he wandered the streets of China, seeking employment. But regardless, his efforts ran futile. Most of the time, he would meet managers who would deny him a job because of his color. They would tell him, “Hey, we are looking for a black man who looks like Obama, but you don’t look like Obama.
Therefore, such comments, coupled with endless incidents of discrimination in public places, bus terminals, and train stations, inspired him to create a YouTube channel and showcase his experiences as a man of color living in China.
Among his videos is when he used to be a BLCU student boarding a bus in China. He is seen sitting alone in the video, with the seat beside him empty while the rest of the other Chinese passengers prefer standing. That video went viral, capturing the attention of many. To date, Maya is making millions from the clip.
Maya explains that his journey as a vlogger started when he got tired of how the Chinese people saw him as a black man from Africa and thinking that nothing good came from Africa. Therefore, he took it upon himself to change their narratives.
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