IShowSpeed Celebrates 50 Million Subscribers During Lagos Visit

LAGOS: US YouTuber and Twitch star IShowSpeed visited Nigeria’s cultural and economic capital, Lagos, on Wednesday as part of his African tour, celebrating his 21st birthday by reaching 50 million subscribers on YouTube.

The influencer, whose tour began on December 29, has travelled through around 15 African countries, attracting large crowds at every stop. Rolling Stone magazine recently named him the Most Influential Creator of 2025, while Forbes estimates his net worth at $20 million.

IShowSpeed began his Lagos visit at the busy Balogun Market on Lagos Island, where crowds gathered around him, shouting comments and asking for money. Surrounded by bodyguards, he briefly reacted to the scene before leaving the area.

He later visited Freedom Park, where he sampled jollof rice for the first time, reacting to its spicy taste, before heading to the Nike Art Gallery, a popular destination for visiting celebrities and dignitaries.

Local YouTubers and fans said his tour was helping showcase African culture, food and everyday life to an international audience, particularly in the United States.

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At around 6:00pm, IShowSpeed stopped his security convoy on the roadside to watch his YouTube channel hit the 50 million subscriber milestone. He marked the moment by celebrating with a cake as fans looked on.

The day before his Lagos visit, the YouTuber was in Dakar, where he celebrated Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations victory.

Born in Cincinnati as Darren Jason Watkins Jr., IShowSpeed rose to fame through gaming content before gaining global attention for his travel videos. His Africa tour has included a race against a cheetah in South Africa, a football match with 100 children in Angola, a visit to Kenya’s Maasai community and attendance at the AFCON final in Morocco.