IShowSpeed, le « Marco Polo » du numérique qui fait vibrer l’Afrique
At just 20 years old, Darren Watkins Jr., better known by his pseudonym IShowSpeed, has become one of the most recognizable faces on the global Internet.
An American YouTuber with a staggering audience, he is now considered the most famous content creator on the planet. The announcement of his visit to Senegal, as part of a major African tour, is already generating strong reactions on social media.
Born in Cincinnati, USA, IShowSpeed is not your average influencer. He's a global phenomenon, a crowd-pleaser, a trigger for collective emotions. Nicknamed the "Marco Polo of the digital age," he boasts over 130 million followers across all his platforms. His live streams draw hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide with each broadcast.
An influencer who moves crowds and states
Before Africa, IShowSpeed toured the Americas, parts of Europe and Asia. Everywhere, the same scenario was repeated: popular hysteria, rushes of fans, immediate media coverage.
In Estonia, for example, a pontoon collapsed under the pressure of the crowd that had gathered to see it. In Lithuania, it was greeted at the airport by the Minister of Economy himself.
In Vilnius, the authorities reportedly spent 23,500 euros for his visit, banking on the resulting tourism benefits.
In Peru, he was even appointed mayor of Lima for an hour.
These symbolic gestures speak volumes about the weight of the young streamer, ranked by Time magazine among the most influential content creators in the world.
By June 2024, his most popular video, Shake, had already amassed approximately 208 million views. But today, it is primarily through his international tours that he makes his mark.
Discovering Africa
From December 29, 2025 to January 26, 2026, IShowSpeed is touring Africa. It plans to visit 20 countries on the continent in 28 days. It is currently in Southern Africa, following highly anticipated stops in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Wherever he goes, the enthusiasm is immense; he draws huge crowds of artists, influencers, and local communities. IShowSpeed goes out to meet people, travels through major urban thoroughfares, and immerses itself in the daily lives of residents.
His live performances offer a vibrant, modern and creative image of Africa, far removed from static clichés.
"Africa has shown me a love I will never forget," he said, visibly moved. A powerful statement for a continent too often reduced to war, poverty, or wildlife.
Deconstructing stereotypes
Through his videos, IShowSpeed reveals a different reality: the pluralistic Africa of modernity, civilization, growth, and hope. He reminds us, without resorting to militant rhetoric, that Africa is not one country, but rather some fifty nations, each with its own unique cultural and human richness.
His tour had a significant impact on many African Americans, who had long been exposed to a negative narrative about the continent. Many discovered, through his images, the real Africa, the one that is rarely shown.
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