Ghana has officially granted citizenship to US YouTuber Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, the country’s Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa announced, marking a historic moment as the influencer wraps up a month-long tour of Africa.
In a post on X on Monday, Ablakwa said the government had confirmed “the irrefutable ties of IShowSpeed to Ghana” and approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport.
“Keep making our great nation, Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud. Ghana celebrates you,” the minister added.
The 21-year-old African American content creator, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, has rapidly become one of the world’s most-followed influencers. This month, he reached 50 million YouTube subscribers, was named the Most Influential Creator of 2025 by Rolling Stone magazine, and boasts an estimated net worth of $20 million, according to Forbes.
IShowSpeed’s Africa tour, which began on December 29, spanned 20 countries, offering millions of global viewers a fresh perspective of the continent. Highlights included visits to a diamond mine in Botswana, Ethiopia’s culinary hotspots, and the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.
The tour has resonated strongly with audiences, especially Black Americans, many of whom posted emotional reactions praising IShowSpeed for showcasing aspects of Africa often absent from mainstream media. His content emphasized Africa’s diversity, innovation, and cultural richness, challenging long-held stereotypes of the continent as solely defined by poverty or conflict.
Ghana’s recognition of IShowSpeed underscores the growing influence of digital content creators in shaping global perceptions and celebrating African heritage.
