Popular YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed visited Egypt as part of his 'Speed does Africa' tour, becoming the first person to ever conduct a live broadcast from inside the country’s famed pyramids.
IShowSpeed’s latest YouTube venture took him to the streets of Cairo, specifically the Khan el-Khalili area, where he interacted with locals, ate local delicacies and was introduced to several Egyptian traditions, such as the Tanoura dance. The YouTuber, also known by his name Darren Watkins, cruised down the River Nile, and even livestreamed from inside the Pyramids of Giza.
"We are about to make history right now. Nobody has ever streamed inside the Pyramids," he said at the start of the clip.
Donning a traditional galabiya, the 20-year-old influencer was shown how to properly ascend the pyramid, and was given a tour by a renowned guide, and even attempted to lift one of the nearby rocks, prompting questions of the pyramids’ construction, and a history lesson.
Over three million people tuned in to the livestream.
His visit to Giza also took him to the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum, which showcases some 100,000 artefacts from various Egyptian civilisations.
However, the streams were met with some backlash from fans over the tight security the YouTuber needed to venture through Cairo, which some said "defeated" the point of the high-energy and free-flowing nature of his streams that he is known for.
In one clip, he can be seen complaining about how "rushed" the experience felt and how "some people on his team" were "overthinking the situation", referring to the heavy security presence.
The YouTuber’s popularity has skyrocketed over the years, often going viral due to the "chaotic" and energetic nature of his streaming. Known for his diverse range of content, IShowSpeed posts gaming, travel, and IRL (lifecasting) videos. The YouTuber’s popularity has also been credited to building connections with his fan base through direct interactions.
The streamer’s presence has crossed over into other industries and fan spaces, including football, and has participated in several sporting events, including charity events.
He has also gained popularity for showcasing different countries and cultures through his streams, often being labelled as a "cultural ambassador" for such.
The YouTuber has expressed his support of the Palestinian cause amid Israel’s military onslaught in the Gaza Strip, and has regularly shouted "Free Palestine!" on his gaming livestreams. In June 2024, he donated $50,000 to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.
IShowSpeed embarked on a tour of Africa in late December, where he intends to visit 20 countries in 28 days, and livestream his journey.
So far, his trip through Africa has inlcuded Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, and Rwanda, among other countries. Currently, he is in Algeria, where clips of him dancing traditional warrior dance with members of the Touareg community, who live in the country’s vast southern desert, have also gone viral.