One of the world's most popular content creators has been attracting huge crowds, mostly his young fans, as he undertakes a 20-nation tour of Africa, a continent he says is 'full of surprises'.
Pre-teen boys in Rwanda and Ethiopia cried with joy and excitement as they hugged their online hero in real life - known by his gamer tag IShowSpeed or simply Speed, who now has more than 48 million YouTube subscribers. He is famous for his high-tempo, frenetic and totally unscripted broadcasts that last anything from three to 11 hours.
African Americans have also been moved to see the outpouring of love and respect shown to their countryman, who will turn 21 during his 'Speed Does Africa' tour.
In Eswatini he was given the name 'Logijimako' - meaning 'the one who runs' - during an initiation ceremony at a royal palace for him to become a warrior who protects the king and family.
Others on social media have named him 'Speedani'.
Speed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, was himself momentarily overwhelmed by the reaction of people in Angola - the first country he visited - where one fan recreated on the beach a meme of Speed's 'my mom's kinda homeless' face.
Bro, I'm not going to lie, he told the chat - the fans watching and commenting on his YouTube livestream.
I love the love in Africa. The energy here is crazy.
Over 28 days, he and his team of recording, security and logistics people plan to visit 20 countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Ghana.
He is planning to see the sights, learn some history, explore daily life, culture and food, play sport, perform high-risk stunts, meet fans and lookalikes, meet some ministers of tourism - and generally experience whoever and whatever comes his way as he speed-walks and livestreams.
I want to show the world what Africa really is, Speed declared during his South Africa stop - where he went car-spinning, learned some amapiano dance moves and got scratched by a cheetah.
Some have dismissed the tour as a superficial gimmick - with the streams only benefitting himself. In the AskAnAfrican Reddit forum, Bakyumu from Niger described the tour as a 'fleeting spectacle' by someone who is ultimately an 'entertainer'.
Speed's meteoric rise has not been without controversy. He is permanently banned from all Riot Games' online tournaments after a sexist tirade against a female player. He apologized and acknowledged he was wrong.
His stock phrases include 'What the...' and 'Siuuu', a nod to his footballing hero Cristiano Ronaldo, which he shouts out in celebration or excitement.
GenZ-ers and the younger GenAlpha-ers love his raw, uncensored content - where almost anything can and sometimes does happen live on air.
I watched the almost four-hour long livestream in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, and was mostly intrigued by the sometimes chaotic encounters and activities.
That was a standout moment for local organizers, as Speed's visit has had the impact that they had hoped for. His presence brought attention and positivity, prompting conversations about Africa and its diverse cultures.
Can one visit by one streamer - no matter how big - change enough perceptions to really shift global narratives towards the continent of Africa? It is a start, prompting mixed opinions but inspiring many across the continent.
