Who is IShowSpeed, the internet sensation who has lit up Kenya?

A 21-year-old American internet sensation, IShowSpeed, has taken Africa by storm following his recent tour of at least seven countries on the continent.

South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and most recently Kenya, are among the African countries he has visited. 

His Kenyan tour on Sunday, January 11 was something special.

First, President William Ruto welcomed him to the East African nation via a viral video on TikTok.

"Jambo, IShowSpeed. Welcome to Kenya, karibu Kenya. Kenya is not just another country, Kenya is a pulse, a feeling, Kenya is home," President Ruto said.

IShowSpeed, alias Speed, livestreamed his public procession in the heart of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, with dozens of youth in tow.

A visit to the city's national park, a tour of a major market, a helicopter ride over Nairobi, and an experience of Kenya's vibrant public transport culture marked the YouTuber's colourful trip to the often energetic country.

IShowSpeed is in Africa for a 28-day tour of the continent, beginning December 29.

His Kenyan trip set new standards, including gaining more than 360,000 new followers from YouTube livestream of his activities in the country.

The new followers ensured that he crossed the 48-million YouTube subscriber mark.

At the same time, more than 200,000 people were actively following his minute-by-minute livestream.

Acknowledging Kenya's immense show of support, IShowSpeed said during his livestream: "I love you all so much. Kenya, we will never forget you."

But who exactly is IShowSpeed?

He has one of the most-followed YouTube channels globally, with over 48 million followers.

On TikTok, he has nearly 46 million followers, and on Instagram he has nearly 44 million followers, while on Facebook his support base is more than 6 million, a figure similar to that of his followers on Snapchat.

On X social network, IShowSpeed has just under 4 million followers, bringing the total number of followers on his six major social accounts to at least 150 million globally.

The YouTuber, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Junior, was born on January 21, 2005 in Ohio State in the US.

He spent his entire childhood in his home state, and has two siblings.

He started uploading content to YouTube in 2016, when he was barely a teenager, mostly posting content related to video games, with FIFA and NBA games featuring prominently.

During the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, IShowSpeed intensified the streaming of his gaming sessions on YouTube.

He also broadcast aspects of his personal life, and began touring the world in 2023, the same year that he graduated from high school.

His explosive energy, athleticism, and often unpredictable stunts reinforce his stage name: "I Show Speed."

In the past, he said he chose the nickname for his PlayStation Network account, when he was 12 years old.

During his gaming sessions, he often shows intense reactions, including venting his disappointment.

Beyond gaming, his YouTube channel showcases the cultures, languages, and customs of different countries during his frequent travels.

In September 2024, he had one million concurrent livestreams during his Indonesian tour.