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By John Ogunsemore
American streamer, Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, has addressed backlash from Nigerian content creators during his ongoing tour, emphasising that his trip is focused on showcasing African culture and everyday people rather than collaborations with influencers.
The controversy arose following iShowSpeed’s visit to Lagos on Wednesday, where large crowds gathered for his livestream, featuring street encounters and viral moments.
Popular Nigerian creators, including TikTok and Kick streamer Peller, and their fans accused the 21-year-old of ignoring collaboration requests.
Peller, whose real name is Habeeb Hamzat, made notable attempts to approach iShowSpeed, including trying to climb his vehicle and riding a horse through traffic, pleading for a joint stream.
In a viral clip, Peller can be heard saying, “Please, I’m a streamer. I’m big. Please let’s do something. I have suffered because of you,” but iShowSpeed paid him no attention.
Times of India reported that Speed responded to the criticisms by clarifying the purpose of his “Speed Does Africa” tour.
“This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers,” he said, adding that “the goal is to show African culture, the people on the streets, and the talent that doesn’t usually get seen.”
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The American maintained that many complaining creators already have established audiences, while the tour aims to showcase those without global exposure.
“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 stated.
iShowSpeed further explained that his itinerary is tightly scheduled by his team, making impromptu meetups challenging.
“Every day on this tour is scheduled — the locations, the time, everything,” he stated, stressing that altering plans for collaborations would disrespect local communities and cultural visits.
Similar criticisms emerged during his earlier stop in South Africa, but he remains committed to the tour’s core message: “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.”
The “Speed Does Africa” tour began on December 29, 2025, and spans 28 days across 20 countries.
After Nigeria, iShowSpeed is expected to visit Benin Republic next.
The streamer, with millions of followers on YouTube and other platforms, has drawn massive attention to African locales through his high-energy livestreams.
