Danfo, jollof and celebrity madness IShowSpeed takes Lagos by storm

By Tolulope Oke

American YouTube sensation IShowSpeed landed in Lagos on Wednesday and wasted no time turning the city into a livestream spectacle.

The 21-year-old streamer, born Darren Jason Watkins Jr., touched down as part of his “Speed Does Africa” tour, marking Nigeria as the 15th stop on his 28-day journey across the continent.

From the moment he arrived, Speed went live, giving millions of fans around the world a front-row seat to his Lagos experience. The day also came with a milestone: 50 million subscribers on YouTube, a feat he celebrated amid the city’s vibrant sights and sounds.

Speed’s first stop was Zlatan’s ZTTW shop, where the energy of Lagos street culture immediately hit him. The rapper welcomed the streamer with a cake to mark his 21st birthday.

From there, he headed to the Nike Art Gallery, where a colorful cultural welcome awaited. Bata dancers performed in his honor while he donned a native dansiki and attempted to keep up with the rhythm, eliciting laughter and applause from both locals and fans watching online.

No Lagos experience would be complete without the city’s iconic danfo buses, and IShowSpeed didn’t disappoint. He hopped onto a yellow commercial bus and rode through the bustling streets, capturing the chaos, charm, and character of the commercial capital.

Food was also on the menu. The streamer weighed in on the age-old jollof debate, tasting Nigeria’s spicy version and ultimately declaring it superior to Ghana’s.

Celebrity encounters kept the excitement rolling. Speed linked up with Shanks, sharing laughs and moments of Lagos street life. He also met Jarvis, who impressed him with her viral AI robotic dance, and spent time with Tiwa Savage’s son, Jamal.

But the day’s most talked-about meeting was with AKA Strongman, popularly called Nigeria’s angriest man, whose presence added an edge to the livestream.

Adding a playful twist, Speed raced Nigeria’s alleged fastest girl, turning the streets into an impromptu sporting arena and keeping viewers glued to the screen.

With the streamer celebrating his 21st birthday yesterday, a growing subscriber count, cultural immersion, celebrity links, and street-level adventures, IShowSpeed’s first day in Lagos was nothing short of electric