US streamer iShowSpeed on Thursday pushed back against accusations of snubbing Nigerian content creators during his high-profile Africa tour, stressing that the venture prioritizes highlighting ordinary people and cultural experiences over partnerships with established online personalities.
The 21-year-old, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., addressed the uproar stemming from his chaotic Lagos visit the previous day, where fervent fans mobbed his movements and sparked debates about missed opportunities for local collaborations.
Critics pointed to interactions with TikTok star Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, who went to extremes to engage the visitor, including scaling his car and pursuing him on horseback through congested streets.
In a circulating video, Peller implored: “Please, I’m a streamer. I’m big. Please let’s do something. I have suffered because of you.”
iShowSpeed, however, maintained his focus elsewhere, as per a report in The Times of India.
“This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers,” he said, explaining that “the goal is to show African culture, the people on the streets, and the talent that doesn’t usually get seen.”
He noted that detractors often already enjoy significant followings, adding: “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 says he won’t cancel cultural visits or moments arranged by locals just to accommodate influencers, stressing that the goal is to put African culture on display for the world — not to centre the tour around content creators
The “Speed Does Africa” series, which kicked off late last month, has featured adrenaline-fueled antics across the continent, from wildlife encounters in South Africa to sports events in Morocco, amassing millions of views and propelling the creator to 50 million YouTube subscribers during his Nigerian leg.
