YouTube's Tuma Basa, director of Black music & culture, announces departure after eight impactful years, thanking collaborators and fans worldwide.
- April 5, 2026
AceShowbiz - Tuma Basa, YouTube’s longtime executive who most recently held the role of director of Black music & culture, has announced he is leaving the company after an impactful eight-year tenure.
On April 2, Tuma Basa shared the news via an Instagram post, reflecting on his time at the streaming giant and expressing gratitude to the many collaborators who contributed to his journey. He thanked the YouTube Music Team, leadership, artists, managers, labels, producers, city specialists, uploaders, and fans — including those skeptical of generative AI — for making his experience memorable. His message included heartfelt acknowledgments in multiple languages: Murakoze Cyane, Asante Sana, Siyabonga, Amesegenalew, Gracias, Obrigado, and Merci Beaucoup.
Tuma Basa joined YouTube in 2018, initially serving as director of urban music before expanding his focus to Black music and culture. During his time at the platform, he gained recognition for championing African artists, notably Nigerian superstar Burna Boy, helping to elevate their presence and influence in the U.S. music scene.
Prior to YouTube, Tuma Basa held significant programming roles at BET, MTV, and REVOLT. He also had a notable stint at Spotify starting in 2015 as the global programming head of hip-hop, where he curated popular playlists like Rap Caviar, further establishing his reputation in the music industry.
Born in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) to a Rwandan family, Tuma Basa spent parts of his childhood in Iowa and Zimbabwe, a background that informed his global perspective on music culture. Originally aspiring to launch a rap career under the name B.2ma B., he ultimately chose to pursue an executive path in music programming.
Billboard has reached out to YouTube for comment regarding Tuma Basa’s departure, but no official statement has been provided at this time.
As Tuma Basa embarks on his next professional chapter, his years at YouTube leave a lasting legacy of amplifying Black and African music voices on one of the world’s largest digital platforms.
