American streamer iShowSpeed has addressed criticism over claims that he ignored Nigerian content creators during his ongoing African tour, clarifying that his trip focuses on highlighting everyday African life and culture rather than arranging influencer collaborations.
The remarks came after his Wednesday livestream in Lagos, which marked his first full day in the city. The event drew large crowds, spontaneous street interactions, and numerous viral clips shared widely on social media across Nigeria and beyond.
The controversy arose when some Nigerian creators accused Speed of rejecting collaboration requests while in Lagos. Fans particularly urged him to connect with Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, a popular Nigerian streamer on TikTok and Kick.
Peller reportedly made multiple attempts to gain Speed’s attention, including climbing onto his vehicle and even riding a horse through traffic. In one widely circulated clip, Peller is 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 respond, continuing with his planned schedule.
The incidents triggered a heated online debate, with many questioning why a globally renowned streamer would visit Africa without collaborating with prominent local creators.
On Thursday, Speed addressed the backlash, emphasizing that the purpose of his Speed Does Africa tour had been misunderstood. “This tour is not about collaborations with influencers or streamers,” he explained. “The goal is to showcase African culture, street life, and the talents that usually go unnoticed.”
He noted that many of those expressing disappointment already have established audiences, saying, “A lot of the people complaining already have followings, while this tour is meant to shine a light on those who normally don’t get global exposure.”
Speed also clarified that his tour schedule is tightly controlled by his team. “Every day is planned the locations, timing, everything,” he said, stressing that impromptu meetups or collaborations aren’t feasible. He added that abandoning scheduled cultural activities would be disrespectful to local communities.
The streamer mentioned that similar complaints had occurred during his earlier stop in South Africa but reiterated his commitment to the tour’s mission. “This trip is about the real Africa street performers, local artists, and communities with genuine talent that don’t often get international attention,” he said.
iShowSpeed’s Speed Does Africa tour began on December 29, 2025, and is set to run for 28 days, covering 20 countries. His next stop is expected to be the Republic of Benin.
