Just when everyone thought the buzz from IShowSpeed’s massive Africa trip was dying down, Ethiopian Speed jumped in with his own version. Yonas Tesfaye, the young guy from Addis who looks uncannily like the American streamer and earned the nickname Ethiopian Speed, announced he’s hitting the road for his own Africa tour barely a day after the original Speed called it wraps.
It all feels like perfect timing, doesn’t it? Speed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, just finished his 28-day whirlwind across the continent on January 27. He started back in late December, bouncing from country to country, live-streaming everything from street football games to traditional dances and wild fan meetups.
Millions tuned in every night. The guy broke records, pulled in views that topped charts, and left people talking about how he showed a side of Africa that’s full of energy and warmth. Ghana even talked about giving him a passport, calling him an ambassador. That’s the kind of impact we’re talking about.
But the real highlight for many came during Speed’s stop in Ethiopia. He was wandering around Addis Ababa when he ran into Yonas Tesfaye. The resemblance was spot on โ same haircut, same wild expressions, same over-the-top reactions.
Videos of them together exploded online. Fans lost their minds. Speed played along, hyping up his “twin” on stream, and suddenly Yonas was everywhere. TikTok lives, clips shared a million times, and people sending gifts and money his way.
One night, he broke down crying on live when donations poured in from Speed’s viewers. It was one of those moments that reminds you how fast things can change in this digital world.
Yonas, who wasn’t exactly a big name before, quickly picked up followers. He started doing his own streams, mimicking Speed’s style but adding that local Ethiopian flavour โ chatting in Amharic mixed with English, showing off Addis street life, and dancing eskista with friends. People loved it. He went from unknown to viral sensation almost overnight.
Now, with Speed heading home and reflecting on what he called the “greatest tour of all time”, Yonas isn’t letting the momentum fade. Social media is full of clips showing him packing up, talking about visiting other African spots, and promising to stream his adventures.
“I’m taking the energy across Africa,” he said in one video that’s been shared widely. It’s not clear yet exactly which countries are on his list or how long it’ll last, but the excitement is real. Fans are already commenting, suggesting places, and offering tips on where to go.
This whole thing says a lot about how influence works these days. Speed comes in as the big international star, shines a light on places like Ethiopia that don’t always get the spotlight, and boom โ local guys like Yonas grab the baton and run with it. It’s inspiring, really.
After years watching stories like this unfold, from the early YouTube days to now, you see how one big moment can open doors for everyday people. Yonas isn’t copying blindly; he’s building on it, showing his own corner of the world through his eyes.
Of course, not everyone’s thrilled. Some online are joking it’s too soon or that he’s riding coattails. But come on โ that’s how viral fame works. If someone hands you a platform, you use it.
And in a continent where young creators are hungry for chances, such success could encourage more to step up. Who knows, maybe we’ll see lookalikes or fans from other stops โ like the Zimbabwe one or Ghana โ doing their thing next.
Speed himself seemed touched by the whole Africa experience. He talked about unforgettable memories and cultures he fell in love with and even got emotional in his final streams.
For Yonas, this tour could be his big break. If he keeps the same raw, fun vibe that made him click with millions, he might just carve out his own space.
As someone who’s covered these internet stars for years, I’ve seen trends come and go. But this feels different โ genuine, homegrown, and full of possibility. Keep an eye on Ethiopian Speed’s feeds. His Africa tour is just getting started, and it might surprise us all.
