American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, has clarified criticisms that he was disrespectful to Nigerian content creators during his ongoing Africa tour, saying the trip is not designed around influencer collaborations but to promote African culture and everyday people.
The clarification followed reactions that trailed the Wednesday livestream of his first full day in Lagos, Nigeria, which drew massive crowds, raw street encounters and several viral moments that quickly dominated online conversations across Africa and beyond.
The backlash began after some Nigerian content creators accused the streamer of ignoring requests for collaboration during his visit to Lagos.
Fans had repeatedly urged Speed to meet Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, a 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 widely shared clip, he was heard saying, “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 the streamer’s silence triggered widespread online debate, with fans and creators questioning why one of the world’s biggest streamers would travel through Africa without linking up with popular local personalities.
As reported by The Times of India on Thursday, Speed addressed the criticism, saying the purpose of his “Speed Does Africa” tour was being misunderstood.
He said, “This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers,” adding that “the goal is to show African culture, the people on the streets, and the talent that doesn’t usually get seen.”
He further explained that many of the creators expressing dissatisfaction already have established platforms, noting that “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.”
Speed also clarified that his daily movements are strictly planned by his team.
He said, “Every day on this tour is scheduled — the locations, the time, everything,” stressing that it is not possible to add last-minute meetups or collaborations.
He added that “cutting short cultural visits or cancelling plans made by local communities would be disrespectful,” insisting that the tour must follow its original structure.
The streamer noted that similar reactions occurred earlier during his visit to South Africa, where some creators also felt ignored. However, he said he remained focused on the central message of the tour.
He said “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.”
iShowSpeed’s Africa tour, titled Speed Does Africa, began on December 29, 2025, and is scheduled to last 28 days across 20 countries. He is also expected to visit Benin Republic next, as part of the tour.
