American online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed, celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday during his first full day in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of his ongoing Africa tour.
The YouTube star set social media buzzing after livestreaming his movements across Lagos, drawing large crowds, intense street scenes and several viral moments that quickly spread across Africa and beyond.
iShowSpeed arrived in Lagos on Wednesday and began broadcasting almost immediately as his convoy moved through parts of the city. Wearing a Nigerian football jersey and standing through the sunroof of a moving vehicle, the streamer attracted traders, residents and passersby who ran after his convoy, waved, shouted and recorded videos on their phones.
Clips from the livestream showed young men chasing the vehicle while calling out phrases such as “show the love” and “money.” As the crowd grew, his security team repeatedly asked people to move back. Barely minutes into the broadcast, Speed was advised to stop the livestream briefly and take shelter inside a nearby shop for safety reasons.
As he continued his tour across Lagos Island, the streamer interacted with residents, some of whom appeared not to recognise him. In one moment that later went viral, Speed asked viewers, “Do I look Nigerian?” after a local man failed to identify him as a foreigner.
At another point, Speed unknowingly exchanged a greeting suspected to be linked to a local gang. His security team immediately stepped in to warn him, highlighting the risks of livestreaming in a busy city like Lagos.
One of the most emotional moments of the day came when a group of Nigerian schoolchildren surrounded Speed and sang “Happy Birthday” for him. The moment coincided with his 21st birthday, leaving the streamer visibly touched as viewers flooded the livestream chat with reactions.
The tone later shifted when Speed visited Freedom Park on Lagos Island. The environment became calmer as he interacted with skaters, dancers and performers. He attempted Nigerian dance moves and reacted to performances by unicyclists and skateboarders.
While tasting Nigerian jollof rice at the park, Speed told his viewers, “I am not gonna lie, this is good. I think I might have to go with Nigeria.”
As evening approached, a comment made during the livestream sparked debate online. Speed said, “It’s getting dark here in Nigeria. I don’t like this dark stuff.” The remark drew mixed reactions, with some viewers criticising it, while others described it as an unfiltered comment during a live broadcast amid limited street lighting.
The day also featured several encounters with Nigerian content creators. Fans repeatedly urged Speed to meet popular TikTok and Kick streamer Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller. Peller made multiple attempts to get Speed’s attention, including trying to climb his vehicle and later riding a horse through traffic.
In one clip, Peller pleaded, “Please I’m a streamer. I’m big. Please let’s do something. I have suffered because of you,” but Speed did not respond, sparking widespread online debate.
Speed also briefly interacted with popular skit maker Egungun of Lagos. In a circulating clip, Egungun asked, “Speed, how old are you?” to which he replied, “I’m 21.” Egungun responded by commenting on his physique and energy, saying, “Wow and you look so healthy and strong.”
Later, Speed visited Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, where he was welcomed traditionally and dressed in Yoruba cultural attire while touring the gallery.
At the ZTTW store, Afrobeats singer Zlatan Ibile surprised Speed with a birthday cake. Reacting live, Speed said it was the first birthday cake he had ever received, a moment that quickly went viral online.
Earlier in the day, the streamer reached a major career milestone by becoming the first Black creator to hit 50 million subscribers on YouTube. The achievement happened live during his Lagos broadcast on his birthday.
Fellow YouTuber MrBeast congratulated him online, noting that Speed was “halfway” to the top.
Later in the evening, Nigerian music star 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.”
Other moments from the day included Speed giving money to a woman and her child, meeting a Nigerian man who closely resembled his brother and arranging a video call with his family to show them the lookalike.
At a birthday gathering later that night, TikTok creator Jarvis appeared in her robot persona, fascinating Speed as she demonstrated her performance style.
Speed also received birthday messages from fellow creators including Kai Cenat, Adin Ross, KSI, Chunks, members of his team, friends and family.
