Senegalese Influencers: When Private Life Becomes a Profitable Business

In Senegal, influencers share private moments such as weddings, pregnancies, childbirth and breakups on social media, attracting audiences and creating commercial opportunities. The trend is described as a shift from product placement to “private-life placement,” driven by motives ranging from spontaneous sharing to economic necessity. Fallou Thiam and his wife, influencer Bébé Bineta, have shared their wedding, honeymoon and the birth of their daughter, Astou. Fallou says they do it “just for fun,” not to increase their views or followers.