American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, has clarified criticism for being disrespectful towards Nigerian content creators during his ongoing African tour, saying the trip was not designed around collaborating with influencers, but instead aimed at promoting African culture and people in general.
The clarification came on the heels of a livestream Wednesday of his first full day in Lagos, Nigeria, which drew large crowds, graphic 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 their requests for cooperation during a visit to Lagos.
Fans had repeatedly urged Speed to meet Habib Hamzat, also known as Pera, a Nigerian streamer on TikTok and Kick.
Pera made several attempts to approach Speed, including attempting to climb into Speed’s car and then attempting to get his attention by pulling out of the road in his car.
In the widely shared clip, Speed can be heard saying, “Please, I’m a streamer. I’m great. Please, let’s do something. I’m suffering because of you,” but Speed didn’t respond and continued on.
The repeated attempts and the streamer’s silence sparked widespread discussion online, with fans and creators wondering why one of the world’s biggest streamers would travel to Africa without working with popular local talent.
The Times of India reported on Thursday that Speed addressed the criticism and said the purpose of his Speed Does Africa tour has been misunderstood.
“This tour is not about collaborating with influencers or streamers,” he said, adding, “The goal is to showcase African culture, people on the street, and talent that you don’t normally see.”
He went on to explain that many of the creators who are voicing their grievances have already established platforms, saying, “Many of those who are voicing their grievances already have an audience, but this tour is meant to give exposure to people who don’t normally get it.”
Speed also revealed that his daily movements are strictly planned by the team.
“This tour is scheduled, location, time, everything,” he said, stressing that no last-minute meetings or collaborations can be added.
“It would be disrespectful to cut cultural visits short or cancel plans made by local communities,” he added, insisting that tours must follow their original structure.
The streamer noted that he had received similar reactions during previous visits to South Africa, where some creators also felt ignored. However, he said he remained focused on the tour’s core message.
He said: “This trip is about the real Africa – a community of street performers, local artists and real talent that doesn’t usually get global attention.”
iShowSpeed’s Africa tour, titled ‘Speed Does Africa’, will begin on December 29, 2025 and will last for 28 days in 20 countries. He will next visit the Republic of Benin as part of his tour.
