The digital landscape of East Africa witnessed a dramatic shift this week as Ethiopia officially surpassed Kenya in live viewership and subscriber growth during American streamer IShowSpeed’s ongoing continent-wide tour. The milestone has sparked a heated but friendly “online war” between the two neighbors, marking a historic moment for digital engagement in the region.
Breaking the Kenyan Record
Just days ago, IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.) declared Kenya “number one” after a chaotic and high-energy stream in Nairobi on January 11, 2026. That session famously shattered his previous records, gaining a staggering 360,000 subscribers in a single sitting and peaking at over 200,000 concurrent live viewers. For a moment, it seemed Kenya’s “Internet Commandos” were unbeatable.
However, as Speed crossed the border into Addis Ababa on Wednesday, January 14, the numbers told a different story. The Ethiopian “Habesha” community turned out in unprecedented force, both on the streets and online. Within the first two hours of his Addis Ababa stream, the live concurrent viewership surged past 250,000, comfortably eclipsing the peak reached in Nairobi.
The Numbers Game
The “Speed Effect” in Ethiopia has been characterized by a massive surge in local channel subscriptions. Early data suggests that the Ethiopian stream contributed to an even larger single-day subscriber jump than the Kenyan leg, pushing Speed closer to his ultimate goal of 50 million subscribers.
While Nairobi stood out for its high-octane street chases and the involvement of celebrities like Julius Yego, the Addis Ababa stream focused heavily on the deep historical roots of Ethiopia, featuring the bustling Merkato and traditional coffee ceremonies. The sheer volume of the Ethiopian audience has been attributed to the country’s larger population and a rapidly growing Gen-Z digital culture that was eager to prove its dominance over its southern neighbor.
A Friendly “Digital Tiff”
The shift in numbers has triggered a wave of memes and banter on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Ethiopian fans have been quick to point out their superior numbers, while Kenyans—known for their fierce online presence—have countered by highlighting the “vibe” and “energy” of the Nairobi stream, which saw Speed mobbed at the KICC.
Despite the competition, the real winner has been the visibility of East Africa. Speed himself expressed amazement at the reception in both countries, noting that the “energy in East Africa is on another level compared to anywhere else in the world.”
What’s Next?
As Speed concludes the Ethiopian leg of his tour, the focus now shifts to whether any other African nation can challenge the new benchmarks set by Addis Ababa. With rumors of a potential stop in Nigeria or South Africa next, the battle for the “King of African Streaming” is far from over. For now, however, Ethiopia holds the crown for the highest engagement in the 2026 tour.
By Ghafla