American YouTuber IShowSpeed arrived in Cotonou, Benin, on Friday as part of his African tour, which takes him to about fifteen countries and attracts large crowds at every stop.

“The visit of IShowSpeed here in Benin can bring visibility to content creators like us,” said Roméo Jules, a fan and content creator. So far, the tour has included a cheetah race in South Africa, a football match with 100 kids in Angola, a visit to the Maasai in Kenya, and the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.

IShowSpeed visited Lagos, Nigeria, on Wednesday, where he celebrated his 21st birthday and 50 million YouTube subscribers.

The YouTube and Twitch star’s tour began on December 29, crossing fifteen African countries. He started in Angola and has traveled through Southern Africa, the Great Lakes region, the Horn of Africa, and North Africa. Upcoming stops include Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Liberia, with the tour concluding on January 26.

Rolling Stone named him the “Most Influential Creator of 2025”, and Forbes estimates his net worth at $20 million.

Africa Through a New Lens

IShowSpeed began his Lagos visit at the bustling Balogun Market on Lagos Island, where crowds approached him asking for money. “What are they saying? They seem to speak English, but a different kind of English,” he noted, quickly leaving the market with his bodyguards.

At Freedom Park, located on the site of a former prison, he enjoyed his first taste of jollof rice before visiting the Nike Art Gallery, a popular destination for celebrities and political figures.

His stop in Benin highlighted the local cultural heritage, which he shared live with his online community. From the foot of the Bio Guéra statue to the Amazon Monument, he also visited Ouidah, a historic city and major center of memory.