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American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeedreal name Darren Watkins Jr.They are coming to the end of a 28-day trip to Africa, which aims to challenge common stereotypes of poverty and violence by showcasing the continent’s rich cultural diversity.
During layover Botswana“,” he reflected on the far-reaching impact of his journey, saying, “I’ve done a lot of incredible things in my life. But this trip was different. It opened my eyes. Africa is not what I imagined. “
The long-distance journey, dubbed “Speed Makes Africa”, began in 2017 and covered 19 countries in southern, eastern and northern Africa. Angola Late December.
Highlights include attending African Cup of Nations Final exist Morocco January 18th, celebrate SenegalThe national football team won the championship, which also marked his 50 million Youtube Subscriber Milestones and 21st Birthdays Nigeria.
Most recently, on Monday, he visited GhanaThere he tasted Jollof rice, met a traditional ruler and received a massage at the Shea Butter Museum. “I’m back home and there’s no better feeling than this,” the content creator said upon arriving in his ancestral Ghana. He is expected to arrive Namibia Tuesday may be the last stop of the trip.
Throughout the tour, Watkins broadcast live on YouTube, with videos often lasting up to nine hours. His sessions include tasting local dishes, learning traditional dances and participating in physical challenges, often accompanied by his characteristic shouts of excitement. Large numbers of followers continued to flock to his various destinations.
The tour attracted widespread attention, with dozens of African-American internet users expressing support in widely shared videos praising its role in changing perceptions of Africa.
Pape Seye, 40, resident dakarSenegal highlights the historical significance of Watkins’ visit to the slave home of Gorée, an island that is a profound symbol of Senegal Atlantic slave trade.
“Americans, especially Black Americans, need to know that our histories are interconnected and that many of our ancestors may have been expelled from Goree,” he said.
However, the tour was not without its critics. Nelly Mbaa, a Beninese internet celebrity who goes by the online name Afro Chronik, said Watkins embodies Western expectations of young black men, who value spectacle more than intelligence.
She described his on-screen persona as “a ridiculous, exaggerated and grotesque character,” adding, “If he abandoned that persona — the constant grimaces, yelling and controversial statements — his audience might disappear.”
The criticism comes against the backdrop of IShowSpeed’s controversial past, with the company building its brand on loud, exaggerated and sometimes aggressive reactions. In 2022, he was banned from a professional online gaming competition following a sexist outburst against a female player and was briefly suspended by YouTube for displaying sexual content in a video game.