By Seli Baisie
Global internet personality Darren Watkins Jr, widely known as iShowSpeed, has been formally welcomed to Ghana with a traditional Akan naming ceremony held on Monday, January 26, 2026, in the Eastern Region.
The ceremony took place at Akwapim-Akropong, where chiefs and elders introduced the visiting streamer to local customs through a rite steeped in cultural symbolism, drumming, and royal pageantry. The event marked a formal gesture of acceptance, linking the content creator to the community through Ghana’s age-old traditions.
As part of the ceremony, iShowSpeed was given the Ghanaian name Barima Kofi Akuffo, a title that carries cultural and symbolic meaning in Akan society. The name was conferred after traditional libation was poured and ancestral blessings were invoked by the elders.
“Barima” is a title reserved for men considered brave and noble, often associated with leadership and strength. “Kofi” reflects that he is symbolically regarded as a Friday-born, a day traditionally linked with calmness and creativity in Akan culture. The surname “Akuffo” signifies his formal adoption into a local lineage, creating a cultural bond with the community.
Dressed in kente cloth specially prepared for the occasion, the internet personality joined the chiefs in the durbar grounds, dancing to the rhythm of fontomfrom drums and greeting elders and residents who gathered in large numbers to witness the ceremony. The atmosphere was marked by music, applause, and chants of welcome, as community members celebrated the moment as both cultural exchange and honour.
The climax of the event came when iShowSpeed was presented to the Omanhene (paramount chief), completing the rite of passage and confirming his new identity within the Akan tradition.
The ceremony forms part of iShowSpeed’s visit to Ghana, during which he has been engaging with local culture, landmarks, and communities as part of a broader African tour that has drawn global attention online.
