Watch: Here’s Why IShowSpeed LOVES Ghana SO MUCH!
American streamer IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins Jr., has built one of the strongest bonds any global creator has with Ghana in 2026: he says his mother is Ghanaian, he was named Barima Kofi Akuffo at the Akuapem palace in January, and he is now a producer on The Eyes of Ghana, which hits North American cinemas on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Ghana Trends Media has a new video on the story, breaking down why the 21-year-old keeps calling Ghana “home” and keeps showing up for the country long after his visit ended.
The connection began during his live-streamed “Speed Does Africa” tour, which started in late December 2025. Ghana was the penultimate stop, and he landed in Accra on Sunday, January 25, 2026, to a large crowd at the airport.
Within days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved a Ghanaian passport for him, and months later he joined Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground on a documentary about Ghana’s independence history.
IShowSpeed says his mother is Ghanaian
Speaking on a live stream from Akropong in the Eastern Region on Monday, January 26, 2026, Speed told viewers he was “back home”.
“I’m really excited, bro, I’m back home. Bro, ain’t a better feeling,” he said, according to Modern Ghana. He added: “I do got family that’s Ghanaian, my mother. It’s exciting to stream here.”
That statement turned his Ghana visit from a tour stop into a homecoming, and it is the main reason Ghanaian fans have embraced him as one of their own.
IShowSpeed named Barima Kofi Akuffo at Akropong Palace
At the Akropong Palace, Speed was welcomed by the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III. He witnessed a libation ceremony and was given the Ghanaian name Barima Kofi Akuffo, the Ghana News Agency reported.
He also received kente cloth and traditional sandals as part of the ceremony.
What IShowSpeed did in Ghana
His first full day in Ghana packed in culture, history and sport. According to GNA, his stops included:
- Asenema Waterfall in Akropong
- Akropong Palace, for the naming ceremony
- Black Star Square, where he did a backflip at the top of the monument with the Supercar Spectacle team and fans
- Bukom Boxing Arena, for an exhibition bout with a local professional boxer
- Hammat Africa, where he tried Ghanaian shea butter
- A taste of Ghanaian jollof rice
He also visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra and recreated a pose associated with Nkrumah, Graphic Online reported. That monument appears in The Eyes of Ghana.
Ghana approves passport for IShowSpeed
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the issuance of a Ghanaian Passport to IShowSpeed”.
Ablakwa cited “confirmation of the irrefutable ties of IShowSpeed to Ghana” and urged him to “keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud.”
The move drew some criticism, with some Ghanaians accusing the government of “devaluing” the passport by giving it to foreign celebrities, the BBC-sourced report noted.
IShowSpeed wears Ghana colours on the World Cup stage
The bond did not end in January. When Speed performed at the 2026 World Cup closing ceremony in July, he wore a bracelet in Ghana’s red, gold and green, Modern Ghana reported.
IShowSpeed joins the Obamas on The Eyes of Ghana
In October, Speed was announced as a producer of The Eyes of Ghana, a 90-minute documentary directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot, with Barack and Michelle Obama as executive producers through Higher Ground. GhanaTrends earlier reported on IShowSpeed joining the Obamas as a producer of the documentary.
The film follows 93-year-old Rev. Dr Chris Hesse, personal cameraman to Kwame Nkrumah, as he works to preserve more than 1,000 reels of footage from Ghana’s independence era. After the 1966 coup, Hesse secretly moved the negatives to London, MyJoyOnline reported.
“His camera captured the birth of African independence,” Speed said. “I’m humbled by his legacy and proud to help bring his story to my community.”
What it means for Ghana
Speed has more than 200 million followers across platforms, according to Graphic Online. His live streams put Akropong, Black Star Square and Bukom in front of a huge young global audience.
His backing of The Eyes of Ghana could also introduce Nkrumah-era history to viewers who might never have searched for it. Director Ben Proudfoot has said he hopes the film can be screened free in schools across Ghana.
What happens next
The Eyes of Ghana gets a one-night cinema screening across the United States and Canada on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at chains including Regal, AMC and Cinemark.
Screening dates for Ghana and the UK have not been announced. The film premiered in Ghana in April 2026.
Key details at a glance: Why IShowSpeed Loves Ghana: Ghanaian Mother, Name Barima Kofi Akuffo and Oct 28 Eyes of Ghana Release
- Who: IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.), 21, American streamer
- Ghana link: Says his mother is Ghanaian
- Ghanaian name: Barima Kofi Akuffo, given at Akropong Palace
- Arrived in Ghana: January 25, 2026, during “Speed Does Africa”
- Passport: Approved by Foreign Minister Ablakwa on January 27, 2026
- Documentary: Producer on The Eyes of Ghana, with the Obamas as executive producers
- Release: One-night US and Canada screening on October 28, 2026
FAQs
Is IShowSpeed Ghanaian?
IShowSpeed is American, but he said during his January 2026 Ghana live stream that his mother is Ghanaian. Ghana’s Foreign Ministry then approved a Ghanaian passport for him.
What is IShowSpeed’s Ghanaian name?
His Ghanaian name is Barima Kofi Akuffo. It was given to him at the Akropong Palace, where he was received by the Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III.
When is The Eyes of Ghana coming out?
The Eyes of Ghana has a one-night cinema screening in the US and Canada on October 28, 2026. Dates for Ghana and the UK have not yet been announced.
From calling Ghana “home” on a live stream in Akropong to producing a film about Nkrumah’s cameraman, IShowSpeed has turned a one-week tour stop into a lasting relationship with Ghana, and with The Eyes of Ghana landing in cinemas on October 28, that bond is about to reach an even wider audience.
