American online streamer, Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, set social media alight on Wednesday after livestreaming his first full day in Lagos, Nigeria, drawing massive crowds, raw street encounters and a string of viral moments that quickly dominated online conversations across Africa and beyond.
The 21-year-old YouTuber arrived in Lagos as part of his ongoing Africa tour and began broadcasting almost immediately as his convoy moved through parts of the city.
Wearing a Nigerian football jersey and standing through the sunroof of a moving vehicle, Speed’s presence quickly attracted residents, traders and passersby, many of whom ran after his convoy while shouting, waving and filming on their phones.
iShowSpeed’s Africa tour, titled Speed Does Africa, officially began on December 29, 2025, and is scheduled to span 28 days across 20 countries.
The tour kicked off in Angola and includes stops in Nigeria, South Africa and Eswatini, among others. The entire journey is being broadcast live on YouTube and Twitch, with a focus on cultural immersion, public interactions and fan engagement.
Clips from the Lagos livestream showed street youths running alongside Speed’s vehicle, some repeatedly calling out phrases such as “show the love” and “money,” while others attempted to get closer to the convoy.As the crowd swelled, his security team intervened several times, urging people to step back. Barely minutes into the broadcast, Speed was advised to temporarily halt the stream and take cover inside a nearby shop for his safety.As the livestream continued across Lagos Island, Speed interacted directly with residents and traders, some of whom appeared unaware of his identity.
In one exchange that later went viral, the streamer asked viewers, “Do I look Nigerian?” after a local man failed to recognise him as a foreigner.
At another point during the street tour, Speed unknowingly participated in a greeting suspected to be associated with a local gang, prompting an immediate warning from his security personnel.
The moment, captured live, underscored the unpredictability and security risks that come with real-time streaming in a dense megacity like Lagos.
One of the most emotional moments of the day came when Speed encountered a group of Nigerian schoolchildren who surrounded him and sang “Happy Birthday” in unison. The moment coincided with his 21st birthday and drew visible emotion from the streamer, while viewers flooded the livestream chat with reactions.
The tone of the day shifted when iShowspeed visited Freedom Park on Lagos Island, where the atmosphere moved from chaotic to cultural.
At the venue, he interacted with skaters, dancers and performers, attempting Nigerian dance steps and reacting to the skills of unicyclists and skateboarders.
While sampling Nigerian jollof rice at the park, Speed told viewers, “I am not gonna lie, this is good. I think I might have to go with Nigeria.”
As evening approached and lighting conditions changed in parts of the city, Speed made a remark that quickly sparked debate online.
Speaking during the livestream, he said, “It’s getting dark here in Nigeria. I don’t like this dark stuff.” The comment generated mixed reactions, with some viewers criticising it and others describing it as an unfiltered observation during a live broadcast amid limited street lighting.
The day’s livestream also featured multiple encounters involving Nigerian content creators.
Fans repeatedly urged Speed to meet Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, a prominent Nigerian streamer on TikTok and Kick. Peller made several attempts to approach Speed, including trying to climb his vehicle and later riding a horse through traffic to get his attention.
In one clip, Peller was heard pleading, “Please I’m a streamer. I’m big. Please let’s do something. I have suffered because of you,” but Speed did not respond and continued his activities. The repeated attempts and Speed’s silence generated widespread online debate.
Another Nigerian content creator who came into contact with the streamer is popular skit maker and influencer, Egungun of Lagos.
The brief interaction between both personalities, which took place during Speed’s movements around Lagos, also sparked reactions online.
Speed officially linked up with Jarvis and spent more than 20 minutes with her even danced together while Peller was spotted watching from a distance, raced with horse and cried but was totally snubbed.
