Popular YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed launched his highly anticipated African tour dubbed “Speed Does Africa” tour on December 29, and Kenyan fans are immersed in deep anticipatory mode as he is expecting to touch down anytime soon.
The tour is a massive, month-long project where he plans to visit approximately 20 countries in 28 days, livestreaming his adventures across YouTube and Twitch.
While he keeps his exact travel dates secret for security reasons (to avoid being mobbed at the airport), he is expected to land in Nairobi within the next 7 to 10 days as he moves into the East African sub-circuit (which includes Ethiopia and Rwanda).
Speed Vs. Omanyala
The biggest prospective spectacle of his maiden Kenyan stop is his supposed sprint against Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala. Following Speed’s viral races against “local flashes” in other countries, Kenyan fans tagged Omanyala incessantly. Omanyala actually responded on X (formerly Twitter), jokingly stating, “I will whoop him by the third step.” If this happens, it is expected to be one of the most-watched sporting livestreams in Kenyan history.
Potential Kenyan Itinerary
While his European tours were primarily city-focused, Speed’s African tour inclines toward cultural immersion and wildlife.
Nairobi Street Tour: Fans are preparing for a “chaotic” walk through Nairobi’s CBD or River Road, similar to his viral streams in Lagos or Ho Chi Minh City.
Maasai Mara / Giraffe Centre: There are rumors that his team has reached out to local conservationists for a “Speed meets Simba” segment.
Matatu Culture: Kenyan creators have been campaigning for him to experience a “Nganya” (Nairobi’s flashy matatus), with several high-end matatu owners already “pimping” their rides in hopes of a feature.
- Cheetah Race: Speed took on his “most daring” challenge by racing a live cheetah; despite being lunged at and scratched before the race, he completed the run but lost to the animal.
- African Strength Challenge: A viral clip showed him harnessed to and successfully pulling a car while being cheered on by a local crowd.
- Cultural Immersion: He has been widely praised for dismantling stereotypes about the continent by showcasing its modern cities, hospitality, and vibrant youth culture.
Visited & Confirmed Destinations
- Angola: The tour’s first stop, where he explored local streets and met fans who recreated his memes in the sand.
- South Africa: He visited Cape Town and Johannesburg over the New Year weekend, participating in Zulu dances, traditional war cries, and learning about South African clicking languages.
- Botswana: Recent streams featured him on a safari in the Okavango Delta, where he reflected on his personal growth and the “organic” joy he found in Africa.
- Eswatini: He also conducted an IRL stream here as part of his Southern African leg.
Speed has hinted at giving fans “DNA Reveal” finale; he has teased that he will reveal his specific African roots at the end of this tour, having already hinted at Angolan roots.