Let’s talk about one of the most talked-about human beings in Africa right now not a politician, not a prophet, not a tenderpreneur.
A 20-year-old American streamer called Darren Jason Watkins Jr**.** You know him as IShowSpeed.
Net worth? Around $35–40 million. YouTube 48 million subscribers. TikTok 45.3 million. Instagram 43.4 million. And the rest of the platforms? Also stacked like a well-run tuckshop in December.
Now before you say, “Ahh but that’s just kids watching nonsense” pause. Because that thinking is exactly why some businesses are still stuck printing flyers in 2026.
THIS DIDN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT (UNLIKE MOST AFRICAN EXCUSES)
Speed didn’t wake up famous.
- Account created: 2016
- First video: 2017
- First livestream: 2018
- Quiet grind: Years
- Turning point: COVID 2020
- Viral explosion: 2021
- Global dominance: 2024
- Africa tour: 2026
While some people were waiting for tenders, prophets, visas, or “the right time,” this boy was pressing GO LIVE.
Not once. Not twice. Consistently.
HE MAKES MILLIONS… BY TALKING TO A CAMERA FOR 5 HOURS
Let that sink in.
No shop rent. No border delays. No ZIMRA raids. No “supplier is not picking calls.”
Just technology, consistency, and attention.
Meanwhile in Africa:
- Business owners are running away from social media
- CEOs say, “Social media is for kids”
- Professionals say, “My clients are not online”
Yet Speed’s audience includes:
- CEOs
- Brands
- Governments
- Airlines
- Hotels
- Tourism boards
- Corporates with marketing budgets bigger than your annual turnover
Those 48 million followers are not all youths. That’s a myth we tell ourselves to feel better about our digital laziness.
THE PLATFORM YOU LIKE IS NOT THE PLATFORM THAT PAYS
Another uncomfortable lesson Speed teaches us:
He’s everywhere.
Not because he likes every platform but because attention doesn’t ask for your comfort.
YouTube. TikTok. Instagram. X. Facebook. Twitch.
Same message. Same energy. Same consistency.
In Africa, we say:
“I don’t like TikTok.” “Twitter is toxic.” “Instagram is for slay queens.”
Cool. But your customers are not consulting your feelings before scrolling.
CONSISTENCY IS BORING, UNTIL IT MAKES YOU RICH
Speed didn’t go viral because he was lucky. He went viral because he kept showing up when nobody was watching.
That’s the part most people skip.
Posting once a week. Disappearing for three months. Coming back with “Let’s grind again”.
That’s not a strategy that’s emotional posting.
THE REAL AFRICAN BUSINESS LESSON
IShowSpeed is not teaching us to scream on camera. He’s teaching us this:
- Attention is currency
- Technology rewards consistency
- Visibility beats talent
- Obscurity is more dangerous than failure
If a 20-year-old can build a global empire by going live, what excuse does a serious African business still have for being invisible?
You don’t need better products. You need presence.
Because in 2026, if people don’t see you online you don’t exist.
And Speed? He didn’t wait for permission.
He pressed GO LIVE.
If your business is still invisible in 2026, the problem is not the product it’s the strategy. We help businesses, sales teams, and entrepreneurs build visibility that converts, create** **sales systems, and use digital platforms properly not for likes, but for revenue. If you’re ready to stop debating social media and start using it to grow your business, let’s talk. +263 77 961 9739 | +260 972 936 033
By The Chartered Vendor
