Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that the country has granted citizenship to US YouTuber IShowSpeed, also known as Darren Jason Watkins Jr., following his month-long tour of Africa.
The 21-year-old influencer, who has 50 million YouTube subscribers, was recognised for his “irrefutable ties” to Ghana.
“@wode_maya following our discussions and subsequent confirmation of the irrefutable ties of IShowSpeed to Ghana, I am pleased to inform you and our compatriots that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the issuance of a Ghanaian Passport to IShowSpeed. Keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud.
“Ghana celebrates you both — you remain our worthy ambassadors, and we are ever so delighted to have granted you a diplomatic passport last year. For God, Country & Continent”, the statement reads.
IShowSpeed’s tour, which began December 29, took him to 20 countries, showcased Africa’s diverse culture, tourism, and technology, challenging stereotypes and showcasing a different side of the continent.
The move is seen as part of Ghana’s “Beyond the Return” initiative, encouraging members of the African diaspora to formalise their ties with the nation.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with some Ghanaians welcoming the move as a boost to the country’s global image, while others question the value of granting citizenship to foreign celebrities.
Lagos was thrust into global focus on January 21 as popular American streamer Darren Watkins Jr., widely known as IShowSpeed, crossed the 50 million subscribers mark on YouTube during a live broadcast on the streets of the city.
The historic milestone, which makes IShowSpeed the first Black streamer to reach the figure, was curated and executed by Nigerian culture and entertainment agency The Plug, which coordinated the streamer’s movements and cultural engagements throughout the day.
Subscriber data from the livestream showed that IShowSpeed began the broadcast at 49,931,591 subscribers before crossing the landmark mid-stream and peaking at 50,044,380, as thousands of viewers tuned in from across the world.
The achievement coincided with the streamer’s 21st birthday and was marked by a series of cultural and fan-driven experiences that highlighted Lagos’ vibrancy. Among the key moments was a visit to the Nike Art Gallery, where IShowSpeed met renowned artist Nike Davies-Okundaye, wore a traditional Yoruba dansiki, and learned the Bata dance. He also adopted the Yoruba name Mojọ́láolúwà during the cultural exchange.
The livestream featured several viral moments, including the streamer sampling Nigerian Jollof rice, which he described as the best he had tasted despite reacting to its spiciness. Another widely shared clip captured his encounter with a local personality popularly referred to online as the “angriest man in Nigeria,” who declined a $1,000 offer from the streamer before walking away.
IShowSpeed also engaged with young fans during a visit to Meadow Hall School, where he interacted with students and took part in light sporting activities.
The day ended with a birthday celebration at Lulu Beach Club, where Afrobeats star Davido joined via FaceTime to congratulate the streamer on both his birthday and the milestone. Speaking during the event, IShowSpeed said reaching 50 million subscribers in Lagos was the best gift he could have received.
By the end of the broadcast, Lagos had become the backdrop for one of the most-watched creator milestones in YouTube history, reinforcing the city’s growing influence in global digital culture under the strategic direction of The Plug.
Socialite Cubana Chief Priest has defended TikToker Peller following his unsuccessful attempt to meet global streamer iShowSpeed during the latter’s recent visit to Lagos.
iShowSpeed arrived in Lagos on Wednesday, coinciding with his 21st birthday celebration. Although Peller did not secure a meeting with the streamer, his efforts have sparked widespread online attention.
Reacting via Instagram, Chief Priest praised Peller’s persistence and drive, while criticising the tendency of some people to belittle others’ ambitions. He commended the TikToker’s bold and unapologetic pursuit of success, attributing his rising popularity to that fearless approach.
Chief Priest also suggested that iShowSpeed’s decision not to meet Peller may have been a calculated move rather than a snub.
He wrote, “Why do we like to tear down our own brothers’ hustles or energy down? Small boy like Peller deh hustle him way to meet speed wey Dey at the top for the business wey him dey do una use am dey mock am. There is no shame in hustle. I celebrate Peller’s energy to achieve his dream. Now you guys see why he is bigger than most of you, because he is ready to push shamelessly. Speed Dey naija but na Peller dey trend. Una no really cherishes una own all you want is to bring your own down so you can mock & laugh at the person, but indirectly you are pushing the person up.
“Streaming is a game of shamelessness. At the end of the day, are you entertained? Peller will never stop being big because the hunger is there, so let him cook. If you follow Speed’s stream, he gets rejected, too, so what’s the big deal? The ignore from speed to Peller is deliberate; he knows the boy. It’s a management issue. The push from Peller is amazing, that’s how you go for what you want, and above all, never shy away from rejections, it must come. Keep pushing for the Top.”
American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known worldwide as iShowSpeed, turned his 21st birthday into a global spectacle on January 21, 2026, as he live streamed his first full day in Lagos, Nigeria.
His presence drew frenzied crowds, viral encounters and a historic career milestone that captivated audiences across Africa and beyond.
The 21-year-old YouTube and Twitch star arrived in Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub on Wednesday as part of his ambitious “Speed Does Africa” tour, a 28-day, 20-country journey that began in Angola on December 29, 2025.
Broadcasting live almost immediately upon hitting the streets, Speed stood through the sunroof of his moving convoy, clad in a Nigerian football jersey, waving to residents who quickly mobbed the vehicle.
Hundreds poured from markets, side streets, and neighborhoods, sprinting alongside the car, shouting greetings, requests for money, and his signature catchphrases while filming on their phones.
The overwhelming turnout forced early intervention from security.
Barely minutes into the stream, Speed was ushered into a nearby shop for safety as crowds pressed dangerously close and local figures, described as ‘area boys or agberos’ demanded payments for allowing filming.
As the day unfolded, a string of unscripted moments went viral.
Schoolchildren encircled him on the street, bursting into a heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday,” visibly moving the streamer on his actual birthday.
In lighter exchanges, Speed asked a passerby who failed to recognise him, “Do I look Nigerian?”
He sampled jollof rice at Freedom Park and declared it the best, fueling the perennial West African rice debate.
He attempted local dance moves among skaters and performers, and toured the Nike Art Gallery in traditional Yoruba attire after a warm cultural welcome.
Local TikTok and Kick streamer Habeeb Hamzat popularly known as Peller made repeated, high-profile efforts to link up, including chasing the convoy on foot and horseback, pleading, “Please, I’m a streamer. I’m big. I have suffered because of you.” The repeated attempts and Speed’s silence generated widespread online debate.
Skit maker Egungun of Lagos secured a brief chat, complimenting Speed’s physique and probing the origins of his “wooo wooo” outbursts.
Afrobeats artist Zlatan Ibile surprised him with a birthday cake at the ZTTW store and Speed called it his first-ever.
Davido joined via FaceTime from Paris, with Speed declaring, “Nigeria has been amazing. I am here for another day.”
TikTok creator Jarvis appeared in her signature robot persona at a nighttime birthday gathering.
The day’s defining peak arrived mid-stream as Speed’s YouTube channel crossed 50 million subscribers live from Lagos traffic.
Standing atop a car surrounded by fans and cake in hand, he became the first Black individual creator to reach the milestone.
Fellow YouTuber MrBeast congratulated him publicly, noting the achievement placed him “halfway” to the top.
Smaller gestures added warmth as he handed cash to a woman and her child, arranging a family video call to show a local man resembling his brother, and genuine awe at the city’s energy.
By the end of the marathon broadcast, iShowSpeed’s Lagos debut had dominated global online discourse, blending cultural immersion, fan frenzy, security challenges, and milestone triumph.
