IShowSpeed reveals his African roots during visit to Ghana
By William Muthama, January 27, 2026American YouTuber and streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, capped off his Speed Does Africa tour by revealing his personal roots in Africa during a visit to Ghana.
The streamer arrived in Accra on Monday, January 26, 2026 to a hero’s welcome, with fans lining the streets, chanting his name, and following his movements throughout the city.
What began as another high-energy livestream quickly became a moment of cultural and personal significance.
I’m back home
During a livestream in Accra, Speed suddenly paused mid-broadcast to reveal a personal detail about his heritage.
“I’m back home, my mother is actually Ghanaian,” he announced.
While in Ghana, IShowSpeed immersed himself in local culture in his own unpredictable way.
IShowSpeed on youtube
He explored major landmarks in Accra, interacted with fans at close range, and sampled local cuisine, including Ghanaian jollof rice, reigniting the long-running West African jollof rivalry after jokingly comparing it to Nigeria’s version.
He also took part in a boxing match, drawing cheers from the crowd as he stepped into the ring.
He also took part in cultural activities, showing visible respect during traditional ceremonies while remaining true to his chaotic, high-energy streaming style that fans have come to expect.
Whirlwind African tour
The Ghana stop marked the final leg of his 28-day Africa tour, which saw him visiting nearly 20 countries. The Ghana livestream followed a whirlwind African tour that officially began in Angola on December 29, 2025. There, IShowSpeed spent several days interacting with fans, exploring city streets, and immersing himself in local culture, livestreaming every moment.
From Angola, he travelled to South Africa, where he was greeted by massive crowds, participated in street performances, and performed his signature backflips in front of ecstatic fans.
His next stop was Mozambique, where he streamed from city streets and coastal areas, joined traditional dancers and acrobats, and praised the country’s vibrant scenery and culture. In Eswatini, he explored local markets, landmarks, and cultural spots, while in Botswana, he went on a jungle safari, interacting with wildlife and sharing the experience with his global audience.
IShowSpeed’s visit to Zimbabwe included city tours, street performances, and fan meet-ups, followed by a brief one-day break before continuing his journey to Zambia.
There, thousands of fans welcomed him, and he explored the capital, received custom artwork from local artists, sampled local cuisine, and even joined children during a karate class.
In Ethiopia, IShowSpeed engaged in street livestreams and cultural tours, showcasing the country’s heritage and connecting with fans. He then spent two days in Kenya, interacting closely with large crowds and livestreaming from several locations, including busy urban areas and local landmarks.
His journey then took him to the Sahara Desert and then to Morocco, where he continued to livestream from city streets, interacted with fans, and participated in local cultural experiences that showcased the richness of the country’s history and traditions.
From Morocco, he travelled to Senegal, where he explored bustling markets, cultural sites, and local performances, sharing the vibrant atmosphere with his global audience.
After that, he travelled to Nigeria, where his stream did not go as planned after fans started asking him for money.
Before arriving in Liberia, IShowSpeed’s penultimate stop was Benin, where he was introduced to a spiritual ritual that involved human-like voodoo and which left him running for his dear life.