American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., widely known as iShowSpeed, has addressed criticisms that he disrespected Nigerian content creators during his ongoing Africa tour, emphasizing that his trip aims to highlight African culture and everyday life rather than collaborating with influencers.
The clarification came after a livestream on Wednesday capturing his first full day in Lagos, Nigeria, sparked massive online attention.
The footage showed crowded streets, spontaneous interactions, and viral moments that quickly dominated social media conversations across the continent and beyond.
Controversy arose after several Nigerian content creators accused Speed of ignoring their requests for collaboration. Among them was Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, a TikTok and Kick streamer, who made repeated efforts to engage with Speed. In one clip that circulated widely, Peller attempted to climb Speed’s vehicle and later rode a horse through traffic in an effort to get his attention, pleading, “Please, I’m a streamer. I’m big. Please let’s do something. I have suffered because of you.” Speed did not respond, continuing his planned activities, which fueled online debates about why a global streaming star would bypass local personalities.
Speaking to The Times of India on Thursday, Speed clarified the purpose of his “Speed Does Africa” tour, saying, “This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers. The goal is to show African culture, the people on the streets, and the talent that doesn’t usually get seen.”
He added that many of the creators expressing disappointment already have established audiences. “A lot of the people complaining already have audiences, while this tour is meant to give exposure to people who normally don’t get it,” he explained.
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Prompt News reports Speed also highlighted that the tour’s daily schedule is carefully planned by his team. “Every day on this tour is scheduled — the locations, the time, everything,” he said, stressing that impromptu collaborations or meetups are not feasible. He added, “Cutting short cultural visits or cancelling plans made by local communities would be disrespectful,” underscoring the need to adhere to the tour’s itinerary.
He noted that similar reactions occurred during his visit to South Africa, where some creators felt overlooked. However, he insisted that the tour’s main goal remains consistent: “This trip is about the real Africa — the street performers, the local artists, and the communities with real talent that don’t usually get global attention.”
Launched on December 29, 2025, Speed Does Africa is a 28-day tour spanning 20 countries. Following Nigeria, Speed is expected to continue the tour in Benin Republic.
