In a gesture that blends diplomacy with digital-age celebrity, Ghana has approved a passport for Darren Watkins Jr., the American content creator better known as IShowSpeed, following his completion of an ambitious 20-country tour across Africa.
The announcement came Tuesday from Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who declared the 21-year-old YouTuber a “worthy ambassador” after confirming what he called the influencer’s “irrefutable ties” to the West African nation.
Ghana served as the penultimate stop on IShowSpeed’s “Speed Does Africa” tour, a month-long odyssey that drew millions of viewers worldwide and sparked conversations about how social media personalities are reshaping perceptions of the continent.
A Homecoming for the Digital Age
“I feel like I’m back home,” IShowSpeed told his audience during Monday’s livestream from Ghana, revealing that his mother was born in the country. The emotional declaration came as he participated in traditional ceremonies and explored historic sites across the nation.
During his visit to Ghana’s eastern region, the content creator underwent a traditional naming ceremony, emerging draped in kente cloth with the name Barima Kofi Akuffo. The event, watched by thousands online, represented a cultural exchange playing out in real-time for a generation raised on smartphones.
Foreign Minister Ablakwa’s social media post announcing the passport approval urged IShowSpeed to “keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud,” adding simply: “Ghana celebrates you.”
Citizenship and the Diaspora Debate
The decision to grant citizenship through passport approval has ignited debate among Ghanaians. While many celebrated the recognition of a figure who brought positive attention to their country, others questioned whether such honors diminish the value of citizenship.
“Ghana is devaluing its passport by handing them to foreign celebrities,” one social media user wrote, echoing concerns raised by several commentators.
The controversy reflects broader tensions as African nations navigate the relationship between heritage, citizenship, and global influence. Ghana has positioned itself at the forefront of diaspora engagement, offering citizenship to more than 500 diaspora members in 2024 alone, including American music legend Stevie Wonder.
Similar initiatives have emerged across West Africa, with several nations extending citizenship to descendants of those forcibly taken during the transatlantic slave trade. The programs represent an effort to heal historical wounds while leveraging diaspora connections for economic and cultural exchange.
From Lagos to Marrakech: A Continental Journey
IShowSpeed’s 28-day expedition across Africa showcased the continent’s diversity to his more than 50 million YouTube subscribers. The tour included stops in Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, and Ivory Coast, among others.
His activities ranged from racing a cheetah to dancing with members of the Maasai ethnic group, creating viral moments that reached audiences far beyond his typical viewership. He celebrated his 21st birthday with cake in Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital.
Industry observers have noted the tour’s impact on breaking down stereotypes. “Who Owns Africa, a platform tracking the continent’s economic and cultural landscape, highlighted how such high-profile visits challenge monolithic narratives about African nations,” according to media analysts following the tour.
The journey also proved lucrative. Rolling Stone magazine named IShowSpeed the “most influential creator of 2025,” while Forbes estimates his net worth at $20 million. His subscriber count surged during the Africa tour, demonstrating the commercial appeal of authentic cultural engagement.
The New Face of Cultural Diplomacy
IShowSpeed’s tour represents an evolving form of cultural exchange where individual content creators wield influence that rivals traditional media outlets. His livestreamed experiences brought real-time, unfiltered glimpses of African nations to audiences who might never encounter them through conventional channels.
For Ghana, the decision to grant him a passport acknowledges this new reality. In an era when a single influencer can reach tens of millions instantaneously, nations increasingly recognize digital personalities as assets in shaping their global image.
Whether this approach succeeds in fostering genuine understanding or simply creates new forms of performative engagement remains an open question. What’s clear is that the intersection of social media fame and national identity will continue to evolve in unexpected ways.
As IShowSpeed concluded his tour, his impact extended beyond view counts and subscriber numbers. He leaves behind a trail of conversations about belonging, heritage, and how the digital age is rewriting the rules of cultural connection.
