Actor says Lagos has “lost its essence,” criticises fake lifestyle and poor cultural representation
Nollywood actor Kunle Remi has criticised Nigeria’s performance during American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed’s Africa tour, describing the country as the “worst stop” on the influencer’s 28-day continental journey.
In a post shared on his Instagram story on Monday, January 26, 2026, Kunle Remi lamented what he called the decline of Lagos’ cultural identity, arguing that the city showcased nothing authentic during the streamer’s visit.
“After watching IShowSpeed’s journey so far, Nigeria is the worst on my own list. We just really stripped Lagos naked. No be say anything dey under the clothes before sha. Seems like we’ve lost the essence of culture — our truth! All we have is fake drinks, club & beggy beggy skills,” he wrote.
The actor’s comments have stirred conversation online, with many Nigerians debating whether the country presented a poor image compared to other African nations on Speed’s tour.
IShowSpeed’s Africa Tour: A Record-Breaking Journey
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., is currently wrapping up a 28-day Africa tour covering 20 countries, aimed at exploring the continent’s diversity and connecting with his global fan base.
His visit to Nigeria made global headlines when his YouTube channel surpassed 50 million subscribers while he was streaming live in Lagos traffic, making him the first Black individual creator to reach the milestone.
The 21-year-old streamer has so far visited Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Speed’s African adventure began in Angola in late December 2025, included a stop in Morocco for the AFCON final, and saw him celebrating Senegal’s victory with local fans before heading to Nigeria for his birthday celebration.
On January 26, 2026, he arrived in Ghana, where he tried jollof rice, received a traditional Akan name (Barima Kofi Akuffo), met chiefs, toured cultural landmarks including the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Black Star Square, and enjoyed a royal spa experience at the Shea Butter Museum before departing for Namibia.
