American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, on Wednesday livestreamed his first full day in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of his ongoing Africa tour, drawing massive crowds, tense street scenes and several viral moments that quickly dominated social media across Africa and beyond.

The 21-year-old YouTuber arrived in the city and began broadcasting almost immediately as his convoy moved through different parts of Lagos.

Wearing a Nigerian football jersey and standing through the sunroof of a moving vehicle, Speed quickly attracted residents, traders and passersby, many of whom ran after his convoy while filming and shouting.

His visit is part of ‘Speed Does Africa’, a 28-day tour that began on December 29, 2025, and covers 20 countries including Angola, Nigeria, South Africa and Eswatini.

The entire journey is being streamed live on YouTube and Twitch, with a focus on culture and fan interaction.

Clips from the Lagos broadcast showed street youths running alongside his vehicle, calling out phrases such as “show the love” and “money,” while others tried to get closer to him.

As he continued across Lagos Island, he interacted with residents and traders, some of whom appeared unaware of his identity.

In one moment that later went viral, Speed asked viewers, “Do I look Nigerian?” after a local man failed to recognise him as a foreigner.

At another point, he unknowingly took part in a greeting suspected to be linked to a local gang, prompting an immediate warning from his security team.

The incident highlighted the risks of live streaming in a crowded city like Lagos.

One of the most touching scenes came when Speed met a group of Nigerian schoolchildren who gathered around him and sang “Happy Birthday.”

The moment coincided with his 21st birthday and drew visible emotion from the streamer, while viewers reacted in the livestream chat.

The mood later changed when he visited Freedom Park on Lagos Island, where the atmosphere became calmer and more cultural.

There, he met skaters, dancers and performers, tried Nigerian dance steps and reacted to unicyclists and skateboarders.

While eating jollof rice at the park, Speed told viewers, “I am not gonna lie, this is good. I think I might have to go with Nigeria.”

As evening fell, he made a comment that sparked online debate.

“It’s getting dark here in Nigeria. I don’t like this dark stuff,” he said during the livestream, drawing mixed reactions from viewers.

Meanwhile, fans urged Speed to meet Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, a well-known streamer on TikTok and Kick.

Peller made repeated attempts to reach Speed, including trying to climb his vehicle and later riding a horse through traffic.

In one 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. The incident generated wide discussion online.

Speed also briefly met skit maker and influencer Egungun of Lagos. In one clip, Egungun asked, “Speed, how old are you?” and the streamer replied, “I’m 21.” Egungun later commented on his physique and online energy.

Later, Speed visited Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, where he was welcomed in a traditional Yoruba manner and dressed in cultural attire. The visit offered a calmer segment after hours on crowded streets.

At the ZTTW store, Afrobeats singer Zlatan Ibile surprised him with a birthday cake. Reacting live, Speed said it was the first birthday cake he had ever received.

Earlier in the day, Speed became the first Black creator to reach 50 million subscribers on YouTube, achieving the milestone while livestreaming from Lagos on his birthday.

Fellow YouTuber MrBeast congratulated him, saying he was “halfway” to the top.

Later in the evening, Davido joined the livestream via FaceTime from Paris.

During the call, Speed said, “I’m in the city. I’m loving it bro. Nigeria been amazing. I am here for another day.”

He also attended a birthday gathering where TikTok creator Jarvis appeared in her robot persona.

By the end of the day, iShowSpeed’s Lagos livestream had become one of the most talked-about pop culture moments online, highlighting both the influence of global digital creators and the intensity of navigating Nigeria’s largest city in real time. (Tribune)

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