American online streamer, iShowSpeed, has responded to criticism that he snubbed Nigerian content creators during his ongoing Africa tour, explaining that the trip is not built around influencer collaborations but around showcasing everyday African life and culture
The reaction followed his Wednesday livestream marking his first full day in Lagos, which attracted huge crowds, spontaneous street moments and several viral clips that quickly spread across social media in Nigeria and beyond.
Controversy erupted after some Nigerian creators accused Speed of ignoring collaboration requests while in Lagos. Fans repeatedly pushed for him to link up with Habeeb Hamzat, better known as Peller, a popular Nigerian streamer on TikTok and Kick.
Peller made several visible attempts to get Speed’s attention, including trying to climb onto his vehicle and later riding a horse through traffic to approach him. In a clip that circulated widely online, Peller could be heard saying, “Please, I’m a streamer. I’m big. Please let’s do something. I have suffered because of you,” but Speed did not acknowledge him and continued with his scheduled activities.
The incidents sparked intense online debate, with many questioning why one of the world’s biggest streamers would tour Africa without engaging prominent local creators.
According to The Times of India, Speed addressed the backlash on Thursday, saying the intention behind his Speed Does Africa tour had been misunderstood.
“This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers,” he said, adding that “the goal is to show African culture, the people on the streets, and the talent that doesn’t usually get seen.”
He also pointed out that many of those complaining already have strong online followings, stating that “a lot of the people complaining already have audiences, while this tour is meant to give exposure to people who normally don’t get it.”
Speed further explained that his movements throughout the tour are tightly controlled by a fixed schedule arranged by his team.
“Every day on this tour is scheduled — the locations, the time, everything,” he said, noting that last-minute meetups or spontaneous collaborations are not possible.
He stressed that abandoning pre-arranged cultural engagements would be disrespectful, adding that “cutting short cultural visits or cancelling plans made by local communities would be disrespectful.”
The streamer revealed that similar complaints surfaced during his earlier stop in South Africa, where some creators also felt overlooked, but said he remained committed to the tour’s original purpose.
“This trip is about the real Africa — the street performers, the local artists, and the communities with real talent that don’t usually get global attention,” he said.
iShowSpeed’s Africa tour, titled Speed Does Africa, kicked off on December 29, 2025, and is scheduled to span 28 days across 20 countries. He is expected to travel to Benin Republic next as the tour continues.
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