IShowSpeed Concludes Africa Tour, Challenges Global Stereotypes

American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has concluded his Africa tour across 20 African countries, streaming live and showcasing the continent’s cultural diversity and challenging distorting Western stereotypes often overshadowed by images of poverty, underdevelopment and wars.

IShowSpeed concluded his tour in Namibia, Southern Africa, on Tuesday, 27th January 2026. 

He was expected to make Namibia his second stop on the Africa StreamTour, but had to postpone his visit because the aviation permit requirements were not submitted on time. He visited the Nimba tribe in Namibia 

“I have done so many incredible things in my life, but this trip is different. It opened my eyes. Africa is not what I thought,” said IShowSpeed.

Tour Highlights Across the Continent

Image: IShowSpeed In Nigeria

IShowSpeed’s tour began in Angola in late December and expanded to southern, eastern and North Africa, visiting a total of 21 African nations. 

He visited 20 African countries plus the Sahara Desert 

Speed visited Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Liberia, Senegal, Benin, Namibia, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, eSwatini, Angola, Rwanda, and Mozambique.

In Morocco, he attended the Africa Cup of Nations final on January 18, 2026 and celebrated Senegal’s victory with hundreds of Senegalese in Rabat.

Speed celebrated his 21st birthday and 50 million YouTube subscribers milestone in Lagos, Nigeria, on the 22nd January, 2026.

On the 26th January 2026, Speed visited Ghana, where he tried Ghanaian jollof rice, met a traditional ruler and toured a shea butter museum. 

“I am back home, there ain’t no better feeling,” Speed said during his livestream in Ghana.

During his livestream in Ghana, Speed shared that his family roots trace back to Ghana through his mother. 

He also said that he might one day own a property there (in Ghana).

‘Speed Does Africa’ Livestream Series

Image: IShowSpeed In Ghana

Speed broadcast much of the ‘Speed Does Africa’ in real life stream series on YouTube, producing livestreams lasting up to nine hours. 

In Africa, he did so many things like sampling local dishes, learning traditional dances, going through traditional rites, dancing with Benin voodoo spiritual masquerades, engaging athletes and interacting with large crowds of Africans across multiple countries.

His African tour attracted over 120 million views on YouTube alone, with hundreds more across his other social media and sparked widespread online engagement, particularly among African and African American audiences.

Support and Changing the Narratives

Image: IShowSpeed in Benin

Since the tour began, dozens of African Americans have shared videos expressing support for Speed, with hundreds saying the tour changed their minds about Africa.

In Senegal, a Dakar resident, Pape Seye, spoke about Speed’s visit to the House of Slaves on Gorée Island, a major symbol of the transatlantic slave trade. 

“Americans, especially Black Americans, need to know that our histories are tied, that many of our ancestors might have been deported from Gorée,” he said.

Black Americans and viewers of his stream say the tour has countered dominant narratives about Africa that focus on crisis, war, poverty, and corruption.

Speed has more than 50 million YouTube subscribers, alongside 45 million Instagram followers and 47 million on TikTok.