My first encounter with live streaming was several years ago when my video game obsessed younger brother started showcasing himself gaming. No this is a lie, it was a live chat on a website that I shouldn't have been on but that story isn't age appropriate. Anyways as a supportive older brother I liked and subscribed but if I'm being honest I didn't watch, it didn't make sense to me then. Yet if he was having fun and enjoying himself then I was fully behind it.
From that introduction to the world of esport streamers, I soon found myself intrigued by the mechanics of it all. Mainly because esport streamers had started making million dollar figures. So when IShowSpeed first made it across my social media feed, I had an idea of what he was trying to do. As an esports streamer, I was in love with his memes, then as he branched out and discovered football, we fell on the same side of the GOAT debate and his personality made me a fan.
So when he began doing real life content and started to travel the world, it was easy to enjoy almost every moment of it. A fact that was true for me and millions across the world. His genuine curiosity and over the top reactions, endearment him to a massive audience across the globe.
The streamer and content creator now has 47.5 million followers on YouTube, 45.5 million followers on TikTok and 43 million followers on Instagram. Twice named Streamer of the Year at The Streamer Awards, Speed has become a global phenomenon.
One many believed to not have a large footprint on the African continent but this has been proven to be extremely wrong by his latest tour. While more than a few still ask, "What does he do?" The easiest way to understand it is to watch him. While streaming lingo like "Ws in the chat," "stream pic," and "streamsniping" may not be easily apparent, the content speaks for itself.
Wednesday 7 January saw him broadcasting from Harare, Zimbabwe, his 10th day on his Africa tour. It came right on the heels of his visit to Eswatini, and being a visit Forbes' Best Country to visit in 2025, it had a weight of expectation to it. Much of that being my own. I was expecting to see a cultural experience that made people want to visit the country. An image of what a random tourist would experience here.
In the stream's first 20 minutes, Speed had visited the statue of one of our most revered spiritual figures, a traditional healer had predicted his future, he had been given a totem and experienced Hope Masike playing the mbira. We were off to an amazing start in my book.
The well curated trip to Mbare Art Space showcased Zimbabwean art, music and food, in tandem with a trip to Matapi flats that displayed the country's culture of masked dancers. Gracia Bvute made him madora and cow testicles, Mary Anibal taught him how to play the hosho, Moffat Takadiwa introduced him his plastic recycling centred art, and Chillspot Recordz got him to record a verse.
Yet as much as Zimbabwean culture made an appearance, the stream was defined by its humour and embrace of streaming culture. Key to this being the appearance of the Zimbabwean Speed, played by Mudiwa Jani. From the haircut, to the yellow Warriors jersey and even the mannerisms, Jani was a match for Speed. The only thing missing being the ability to back flip. More than just a great representation of Zimbabwean content creators, this was an amazing moment for streaming culture and all dedicated members of the IShowSpeed chat.
Why? Well Speed's streams have often been interrupted by a streamsniper called "White Speed," so a new Speed variant entering the picture was undoubtably exciting, especially one as brilliantly executed as Jani's character. The awkward car rides were Speed's Zimbabwean chaperone, Chief Ben, had gone for long periods of silence had given birth to memes and hilarious commentary on social media, but Jani now made the onscreen content itself hilarious.
This was added to by the snubs of Scottland FC, the country's best designer, the country's rugby captain and even Miss Universe Zimbabwe (Why would her team send her out without her sash and crown? That's basically showing up as a random woman). The chat and by extension the X timeline had a field day, and while the main characters hadn't expected to be the butt of the joke, this was simply within the nature of streaming.
There is a broader critique of Zimbabwean influencers and celebrities here but luckily their embarrassment was mostly apparent to us and not the broader international community. Similar to how it wasn't apparent to Speed that he had snubbed anyone.
As the stream came to it's conclusion a group of acrobats grabbed Speed's attention at Highland, the child present stunned him with an artwork that changed from Speed to Ronaldo depending on the angle, and a coordinated chaos unfolded at Queen Of Hearts - the highlight of which being a jiti dance session. At the close, Jani once again stole the show, screaming "Green apples" at the camera - the code word to shut off the stream, usually only said by Speed.
For all the ups and downs in the stream's 5 hours, the propaganda inclined drive to Trabablas interchange (If you're going to make yourself look good as a government, let him tour the gold vaults or something), and the trip to Mabvuku for football on a sandy pitch, the Zimbabwe stream had been entertaining.
The Zimbabwean experience had collided with streaming culture for a bit of the unexpected and mostly the hilarious. For the most part I was glad it wasn't the tourist brochure my expectations had in mind. It piqued the curious, and had countless entertainment value.
As a final reflection on Zimbabwe and the several other African countries he's visited, I would just say that we have this boy pulling cars, back flipping on trucks and racing half the continent; when he asks for some food please feed him.