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<\/p>\nIShowSpeed’s Ethiopian visit has set the Internet on fire and for good reasons. (Screengrabs from livestreams\/X)<\/p>\n
Darren Watkins Jr. popularly known as IShowSpeed by his fans and the rest of the world, is on a generational run. While his initial days\u2019 rawness and gaming on livestreams deservedly earned him eyeballs and millions of subscribers across social media platforms, it is his shift towards taking his content international that has not only left a huge impact on his young and impressionable audiences, but also mightily impressed the older demographic (read: parents) helicoptering his content. <\/p>\n
The 21-year-old streamer and entertainer recently travelled to Ethiopia on the \u2018Speed Does Africa\u2019 tour, and it has, many social commentators say, become a benchmark on how an influential personality should appropriately partake in cultural immersion. <\/p>\n
Who is IShowSpeed And Why Is He So Popular?<\/p>\n
If you are a parent or someone who doesn\u2019t quite understand why youngsters are so obsessed with IShowSpeed, we\u2019ve got you covered. <\/p>\n
IShowSpeed, bursting with energy, began his livestreams in 2017, playing popular games such as FIFA, NBA 2K, and Fortnite. It was his in-your-face personality that drew viewers back to his streams. His ability to retain his followers\u2019 attention with his antics, random reactions, and exaggerated emotions was what set him apart. His unfiltered, easy-going persona kept his viewers hooked. <\/p>\n
Another factor that propelled him to popularity was the meme frenzy. IShowSpeed\u2019s many clips and outbursts from his streams are part of the popular meme culture. <\/p>\n
In 2021, Speed hosted a four-hour and twenty-three-minute-long stream in which he primarily played the Fortnite game. The streamer was extremely candid in this session and spoke about his personal struggles. During the viral livestream, Speed also shed light on his mother\u2019s housing situation, giving the Internet the \u201cMy Mom Is Kinda Homeless” moment.<\/p>\n
This stream was catalogued on IMDb as a standalone \u201cvideo” and received a perfect rating of 10\/10 by the community on the platform.<\/p>\n
Due to a combination of these factors, coupled with his extensive international tours, the YouTuber has been able to resonate with global audiences. He also has a penchant for appearing masterfully at places where he knows it matters the most. He was there for the India vs Pakistan ODI World Cup 2023 game. <\/p>\n
Now, back to his blockbuster visit to Ethiopia.<\/p>\n
Spiderman Meme Recreation<\/p>\n
Perhaps the most viral moment from iShowSpeed\u2019s Ethiopia tour came when the American livestreamer came face-to-face with his lookalikes. The trio then hilariously recreated the iconic Spiderman meme, much to the delight of thousands gathered offline and online. <\/p>\n
Gesture For Ethiopian Speed<\/p>\n
iShowSpeed was seen fixated with his lookalike, the Ethiopian Speed, for a good reason. During his interaction, the star livestreamer learned that his lookalike had been bullied for mimicking him, which put him directly in the line of brutal bullying from all corners. <\/p>\n
Several fans of iShowSpeed noted that the American livestreamer wished to change the narrative for his Ethiopian lookalike, and instead of pushing him away, iShowSpeed decided to embrace him completely. <\/p>\n
\ud83d\udea8WATCH: iShowSpeed explains why he kept putting Ethiopian Speed on top of the car with him and showing him so much love during his time in Ethiopia. He reveals he was told Ethiopian Speed had been getting bullied for harmlessly making short videos pretending to be him \u2014 so to\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/A5fzRnmPrf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 richo (@richo) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Ethiopia Is In 2018<\/p>\n During his African country tour, Speed was quite stunned when he learned that he had time-travelled. Why? Because Ethiopia is still in 2018, roughly eight years behind the rest of the world. <\/p>\n Ishowspeed was genuinely confused and surprised after finding out Ethiopia uses it\u2019s own calendar and dosen\u2019t use the same calendar as the rest of the world( they are in the year 2018 rn and they have 13 months in a year ) ????\ud83e\udd40\u201cWhat??, 2018?, we\u2019re in 2018?, y\u2019all serious ?,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/vWBfj5Qszl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ????????????????????\u26e5 (@lamarviiii) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIn Ethiopia, the birth year of Jesus Christ is recognized as seven or eight years later than the Gregorian, or \u201cWestern” calendar, which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582,” CNN Travel noted. <\/p>\n In fact, unlike the \u201cnorm,” Ethiopia has 13 months in a year. <\/p>\n \u201cFollowing a solar-lunar system, it\u2019s 13 months long, with 12 of those months lasting for 30 days. The final month consists of just five days, or six days during a leap year,” the report added. <\/p>\n IShowSpeed was crowned a gifted warrior of Ethiopia and learned how the country fought off European colonizers and remains the only African nation never formally colonized, still proud of its \u201cpatriots victory” to this day \ud83d\ude32 pic.twitter.com\/LUCgZtSdiz<\/a>\u2014 Woody (@nyrbhimself) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Coffee Invented In Ethiopia <\/p>\n Ethiopia, widely considered the birthplace of coffee, left Speed pleasantly surprised. <\/p>\n IShowSpeed was surprised to learn coffee was invented in Ethiopia, and that colonizers took Ethiopian coffee seeds back to their own countries to plant them because they couldn\u2019t grow coffee in their own climate \ud83d\ude32 pic.twitter.com\/nnIdhjSp8v<\/a>\u2014 Woody (@nyrbhimself) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBetter Than World Leaders”<\/p>\n Ethiopia\u2019s vibrant nightlife, seen through the eyes of someone as influential as iShowSpeed, has ignited huge excitement among the locals. Many praised the American streamer\u2019s visit as refreshingly free of Western stereotypes and bias, something they believed was worth its weight in gold, and world leaders could learn from.<\/p>\n \u201cThe days of parading Africa as a jungle or poverty hub are gone.We are equally tired of that narrative. When here,please show them how developed we are,show them our inventions our beautiful cities. Its time they see the real Africa. Ethiopia \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf9 you made me proud see you soon (sic),” X user @freddyMM93 remarked about Speed changing the narrative. <\/p>\n \u201cwhen he gets tired of streaming one day he\u2019s gonna make an incredible host for an educational show on the Discovery Channel (sic),” exclaimed another. <\/p>\n On the other hand, Speed admitted that he found Ethiopia beautiful and it became his favourite African country, as the locals matched his infectious energy with harmony and great zeal. <\/p>\n First Published:<\/p>\n January 14, 2026, 15:41 IST<\/p>\n News<\/a> explainers<\/a> Why IShowSpeed’s Ethiopia Visit Is A Game-Changer For His Young FansDisclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n