American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, set social media abuzz on Wednesday after livestreaming his first full day on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria. The broadcast attracted massive crowds, unscripted street encounters and a series 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 went live almost immediately as his convoy moved through various parts of the city. Dressed in a Nigerian football jersey and standing through the sunroof of a moving vehicle, Speed’s appearance drew instant attention from residents, traders and passersby, many of whom ran after the convoy, cheering, waving and recording the moment on their phones.
His Africa tour, titled Speed Does Africa, officially began on December 29, 2025, and is expected to last 28 days, covering 20 countries. The journey started in Angola and includes stops in Nigeria, South Africa, Eswatini and several others. The entire tour is being streamed live on YouTube and Twitch, with an emphasis on cultural immersion, public interaction and fan engagement.
Clips from the Lagos livestream showed street youths running alongside Speed’s vehicle, repeatedly shouting phrases such as “show the love” and “money,” while others attempted to get closer to the convoy. As the crowd grew, his security team stepped in multiple times, urging people to keep their distance. Barely minutes into the stream, Speed was advised to pause the broadcast and briefly take shelter inside a nearby shop for safety reasons.
As the livestream continued around Lagos Island, Speed interacted with locals, some of whom appeared unaware of his global fame. In one moment that later went viral, he asked viewers, “Do I look Nigerian?” after a local man failed to recognize him as a foreigner.
At another point during the street tour, Speed unknowingly participated in a greeting believed to be associated with a local gang, prompting an immediate warning from his security team. The incident, captured live, highlighted the unpredictability and security challenges of real-time streaming in a densely populated megacity like Lagos.
One of the most emotional moments of the day occurred when Speed encountered a group of Nigerian schoolchildren who surrounded him and sang “Happy Birthday” in unison. The gesture coincided with his 21st birthday and visibly moved the streamer, as viewers flooded the livestream chat with emotional reactions.
The atmosphere later shifted when Speed visited Freedom Park on Lagos Island, where the experience became more cultural than chaotic. At the venue, he engaged with skaters, dancers and performers, attempting Nigerian dance moves and reacting enthusiastically to unicyclists and skateboarders.
While sampling Nigerian jollof rice, Speed told viewers, “I’m not gonna lie, this is good. I think I might have to go with Nigeria.”
As evening fell and visibility reduced in parts of the city, a comment made by Speed during the livestream sparked debate online. “It’s getting dark here in Nigeria. I don’t like this dark stuff,” he said. The remark drew mixed reactions, with some viewers criticising it while others described it as an unfiltered observation during a live broadcast amid limited street lighting.
The day also featured several encounters with Nigerian content creators. Fans repeatedly urged Speed to meet popular streamer Habeeb Hamzat (Peller). Peller made multiple attempts to get Speed’s attention, including trying to climb onto his vehicle and later riding a horse through traffic. In one clip, he was heard pleading for a collaboration, but Speed did not respond, sparking widespread online discussion.
Another Nigerian influencer who briefly interacted with Speed was skit maker Egungun of Lagos. During the exchange, Egungun asked Speed about his age and commented on his physique and signature online energy, moments that also generated reactions across social media.
Later, Speed visited Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, where he was welcomed in traditional Yoruba style and dressed in cultural attire while touring the gallery. The visit provided a calmer contrast to the earlier street scenes.
At the ZTTW store, Speed met Afrobeats singer Zlatan Ibile, who surprised him with a birthday cake. Speed revealed on livestream that it was the first birthday cake he had ever received, a moment that quickly went viral.
Earlier that day, Speed reached a major career milestone, becoming the first Black creator to hit 50 million subscribers on YouTube, achieving the feat live from Lagos on his birthday. Fellow YouTuber MrBeast congratulated him online, noting that Speed was “halfway” to the top.
Later in the evening, music star Davido joined the livestream via FaceTime from Paris. During the call, Speed expressed his excitement, saying Nigeria had been amazing and that he would be staying another day.
Additional moments from the day included Speed giving money to a woman and her child, meeting a Nigerian man who closely resembled his brother, and arranging a video call with his family to show them the lookalike.
At a birthday gathering later that night, TikTok creator Jarvis appeared in her robot persona, fascinating Speed as she demonstrated her performance style. He also received birthday messages from fellow creators including Kai Cenat, Adin Ross, KSI, Chunks, as well as friends, family and team members.
By the end of his first day in Lagos, iShowSpeed’s livestream had become one of the most talked-about pop culture moments online—highlighting the global influence of digital creators and the intensity, spontaneity and complexity of navigating Nigeria’s largest city in real time.
