ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — American livestreaming star IShowSpeed drew enormous crowds and global attention this week as his fast-moving tour of Africa reached Ethiopia, delivering viral moments that blended culture, comedy and controversy.
The 20-year-old internet personality, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., appeared visibly astonished after discovering that Ethiopia follows its own ancient calendar system, where the current year is 2018, seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world.
Joking with viewers during a live broadcast, Speed quipped that the time difference meant he was “13 again,” triggering millions of reactions across social media platforms within hours.
His visit quickly became a public spectacle. Hundreds of fans surrounded his convoy in central Addis Ababa, chanting his name as he sampled iconic Ethiopian staples including injera, freshly brewed coffee, and kitfo, the country’s seasoned raw beef delicacy.
However, the stream took an unexpected turn when Speed became visibly unwell on camera, clutching his stomach and leaving the broadcast abruptly.
The moment circulated rapidly online, sparking a wave of concern, jokes and debate about the risks of high-pressure livestream tourism.
Neither Speed nor his team have issued a medical update, though he later resumed activity on social media, reassuring followers that he was recovering.
Africa tour fuels global curiosity
The Ethiopia stop forms part of Speed’s ambitious pan-African tour, which he says is designed to showcase the continent’s culture, talent, and natural beauty to his global audience of more than 150 million followers across YouTube, TikTok, X and other popular social media platforms.
Also Read: IShowSpeed brings viral ‘Speed Does Africa’ tour to Kenya, draws massive crowds
The influencer plans to visit up to 20 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Ivory Coast, with future stops expected to include East and Southern Africa.
His tour has been praised by tourism stakeholders and cultural commentators for placing African cities in front of massive international audiences, though some critics argue the chaotic nature of the visits risks overshadowing deeper cultural context.
Even so, the Ethiopia broadcast has already delivered a rare moment of soft-power exposure for the Horn of Africa nation, with global search interest in Ethiopia’s calendar, cuisine and traditions spiking in the hours following the livestream.
