IShowSpeed Africa Tour

As a millennial, I only became aware of the streaming world about a year ago. What I found fascinating is that young men in their early 20s were becoming millionaires purely from live-streaming their day-to-day lives. Two popular streamers I see mentioned a lot are Kai Cenat and Speed. I didn't realise how influential these young men were. I had seen clips of Speed in China and Europe, where huge crowds of people were following him and screaming his name. I was shocked; in my eyes, he was getting more attention than most A-list celebrities. I wondered why he was so famous.

Recently, Speed did a tour of Africa, visiting 20 countries. As an African myself, I decided to tune in to parts of the tour. It was very entertaining and educational. Seeing how he was received all over Africa, and the large crowds he drew from people of all ages, showed how much influence he has. I had assumed his audience was mostly Gen Z, but it clearly included people of all ages.

From the Egyptian pyramids, to the Maasai tribe in Kenya, to the AFCON finals in Morocco, to Speed receiving a massage in Ghana while the women chanted "Kurya Kurya Kurugengen," it was an epic tour. What surprised me was the number of online clips of people (mainly Americans) who were shocked by what they saw in Africa; they had believed the whole continent was nothing but dirt, sand, mud huts, and poverty. I was thinking: in this day and age of the internet and YouTube, how did they not know that Africa has cities, especially with YouTubers such as Wode Maya, who has been showcasing Africa on YouTube for many years?

Speed single-handedly shattered many negative stereotypes about the African continent and introduced a new audience to its numerous cultures. He took his time to embrace the local people in each country he visited and immersed himself in various cultural practices such as naming ceremonies, cultural dances, eating local dishes, and learning words in different languages. I liked that he was open to learning about these cultures and did not judge them negatively.

One downside of the tour was the racist abuse he suffered in North Africa. To be honest, it didn't surprise me; my parents previously lived in North Africa and told me about the racism they experienced. While at a football stadium in Algeria, objects were thrown at him by football fans, and he was called the n-word. I understand not all North Africans are racist, but there is a lot of racism in those countries towards Black people. For example, during the Morocco vs Senegal AFCON final, Morocco kept stealing the Senegalese goalkeeper's towels. Morocco also allocated only 2,850 seats out of 69,500 (just 4%) to Senegalese fans. Even the Moroccan reporters walked out of the press conference when the Senegalese coach came in. One of the worst things, in my opinion, was a Moroccan official breaching protocol by not handing the trophy directly to the Senegalese team. That is why I am glad Senegal beat them and won.

The tour shows how diverse Africa is, with its many ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. Africans are not monolithic. I am glad that the beauty of this continent has been showcased to the world. I’m also glad that years of negative propaganda have been challenged by this young 21-year-old and his team. I’m sure the number of visitors to the continent will increase dramatically because of this tour. If you are African or of African descent, it is something to be proud of. I am looking forward to when he does part 2 of the African tour.

Sinners

*Disclaimer: This post contains spoilers.

When I first heard about The Sinners film, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I wanted to see the film because I'm a big fan of Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan films (plus Michael is FINE! lol). On the other hand, I was questioning whether I should watch it as a Christian, especially with a title called "Sinners". I saw a lot of discourse about the film online, some Christians watched it and loved it and others said it was demonic and were against it. We even had a discussion in church about it and people's opinions were split. Ultimately, whether to watch the film or not is down to one's own personal conviction. I ended up watching Sinners with my family and we enjoyed it. Is it a pro-Christian film? Nope, but there are elements of the film I believe are in alignment with Biblical principles which I am going to explore.

In the film, the vampires could only enter the jukejoint if they were invited inside. I see this as a powerful analogy: the devil can only gain access to our lives if we open the door to him. We don't have to explicitly invite him in but our actions, choices, and sinful behaviour can serve as an open door. When we sin, we create spiritual entry points that give the enemy room to operate in our lives. This is why repentance is important, to close these doors and reaffirm our alignment with God.

Another significant element is the character of Remmick, the head vampire, who I believe represents Satan. His goal was to turn everyone into vampires to build a community that reflects his values and submits to his control. In the same way, Satan seeks to lead people away from God and into his own kingdom. Remmick tempts others with the promise of a better life as a vampire—offering freedom, immortality, and community. This mirrors how the devil entices us with the temporary pleasures of the world. This reminds me of Matthew 4:8-9 when Satan tried to tempt Jesus: "the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me". Stack is an example of someone who gave in to temptation and ended up becoming a vampire. The main lesson I took from this is to resist temptation otherwise, in the end it will only lead to your downfall.

Another powerful scene is when Sammy recites the Lord's prayer—and Remmick recites it alongside him. I found this to be a key moment in the film. It serves as a reminder that the devil knows Scripture too. During Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, Satan quoted Scripture in an attempt to deceive Him (see Matthew 4:6). This moment highlights a vital truth: being a Christian isn’t just about knowing Bible verses. Head knowledge alone doesn’t equate to true faith. There are people who aren’t followers of Christ who can quote Scripture front to back—but that doesn’t make them Christians. True Christianity goes beyond information; it’s about transformation. It means having a personal relationship with God through Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, purifying our hearts, renewing our minds, and guiding our lives. Though Sammy was a Preacher's son, his actions show that he didn't have the Holy Spirit in him as his god was his guitar, which he chose over his faith.

Music is a major element in the film. I’ve often spoken out about the music industry and the kinds of messages it promotes. In the movie, Sammy uses music to summon spirits from both the past and the future—including Remmick himself. We know that Satan was an Angel of music before his fall from heaven. That’s why I believe music is spiritually powerful—it can influence atmospheres and even open doors to the unseen realm. There are stories of artists who engage in rituals, smoke, or drink before creating music, sometimes claiming it enhances their “creativity.” One of the members of the Backstreet Boys did an interview and said that there are witches at record labels who demonically pray over albums before their release. Music isn’t just entertainment—it carries frequency, emotion, and intention. It can be used to uplift, worship, and heal, but it can also be used to manipulate, deceive, and invite spiritual influence. That’s why it’s crucial to guard your ear gates and be mindful of what you’re allowing into your spirit through sound. As believers, we should exercise our discernment when choosing the music we listen to.

The film also incorporates elements of Hoodoo, a traditional African American spiritual practice deeply rooted in African ancestral wisdom and nature-based rituals. In the film, Annie uses it to protect her husband, Smoke. She does not use it for evil. Her character is portrayed as wise and discerning, and her spiritual knowledge proves instrumental in the fight against the vampires. This can be interpreted as being pro-Hoodoo. As someone who has previously researched different African spiritual systems, I wasn't offended by this. Watching films or shows about vampires and the supernatural doesn't phase me, as I grew up watching Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Nollywood films that have voodoo in them (as Christians, still use your discernment). There are many spiritual belief systems/religions on this earth that millions of people believe in. As a Christian, I believe that none of them can touch Christianity. In the Bible, there are many instances of people worshipping different gods yet time and again, God shows himself to be more powerful than all of them.

Overall, I think Sinners is a great film and presents a layered narrative that intertwines spirituality, culture, and the unseen battle between good and evil. While it contains controversial elements, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on how faith, identity, and discernment play out in the real world. It raises important questions about how we engage with the world as Christians. Ultimately, it reminds us to stay spiritually aware, guard our hearts and minds, and seek God’s truth above all.

The Revolution will be Televised!

I never thought that in my lifetime I would witness an African leader capable of uniting not only Africans on the continent but those in the diaspora. I never thought I would witness an African leader who could defy the West and survive numerous assassination attempts. The Pan-African in me is screaming with joy!! This is all due to Captain Ibrahim Traore, the young President of Burkina Faso, who is changing the narrative.

As history shows, any African leader who defied the West and prioritised developing their own country and uplifting their people often paid with their lives. An example of this is Patrice Lumumba of Congo. Another example is Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso, who achieved a remarkable amount despite his limited time in office. He increased the literacy rate from 13% to 73%,  promoted self-reliance and rejected foreign aid, and focused on building schools, health centres, water reservoirs, infrastructure projects, and many other accomplishments. Like the West typically does (in this case, France), they used a black person close to Sankara to assassinate him, his own childhood best friend, Blaise Compaoré.

Many people see Ibrahim Traore as Thomas Sankara reincarnated. During his short time as president, Traore kicked out the French, paid off Burkina Faso's debts, increased the GDP from $18.8 billion to $22.1 billion, made education free, invested in agriculture, and is currently constructing roads and factories, building a new airport, plus more. Like Sankara, he is pushing for self-sufficiency. Many of us have never seen a leader like Traore; the support for him is worldwide. On 30 April 2025, there were worldwide protests—from London to New York, Jamaica, and across Africa—as people came out to show their solidarity with Traore after American General Langley accused Traore of using his country's gold for his protection. We also know from history that this is another tactic of the West, creating false narratives of leaders. In this age of social media, I don't think this will work.

Even if Ibrahim did use his country's gold for protection, it is justified. His actions have made him a target, and there have been 19 assassination attempts on his life. One of his close bodyguards was paid $5 million to kill him, but the bodyguard took the money and then informed Traore (talk about integrity!). I believe France is scared. Traore's actions could set a precedent for other African nations to follow. Their grip on Africa is weakening, Niger and Mali already kicked them out. France has been receiving $500 billion annually in colonial taxes from Francophone African countries, and the way things are going, this is not going to last. Former President of France, Jacques Chirac, even said that France would become a third-world country without Africa.

What I believe has helped is Burkina Faso's alliance with Russia. I have seen some discourse online about people who are sceptical about this relationship, due to the history of foreigners exploiting Africa, which is understandable. To be honest, Russia does not have a history of exploiting Africa, and every country needs allies. Look at BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa & others). Russia's intelligence was able to help foil multiple assassination attempts against Traore, so I'm not against it. 

I believe there is a shift in consciousness in Africa; the people have had enough. How much suffering and exploitation can a continent continue to endure? There are only so many times you can poke the bear before it reacts. The average age of an African is 19 years old, the population is rapidly increasing, most Africans have access to the internet and can see what is happening in the world. Traore is a beacon of hope across the continent and the world. All of these factors are great conditions for radical change. I believe we are currently and finally starting to witness the rise of Africa.

Race & Riots 2024

In 2011, I wrote about the nationwide riots in the UK sparked by the death of Mark Duggan at the hands of the police. Over a decade later, this country finds itself in the grip of another wave of violence and unrest. On 29 July 2024, eleven children and two adults were stabbed at a dance class in Southport. Unfortunately, three of the children have died. This tragedy has shaken the country to its core due to the magnitude of this horrific crime. The suspect in this case is Axel Rudakubana who was 17 years old at the time.

Initially, the media withheld the identity of Axel due to his age. In the absence of verified information, false reports and rumours spread rapidly, particularly among far-right circles. These groups falsely claimed that the perpetrator was an illegal Muslim immigrant who had entered the country by boat. However, the truth is that Axel is a British citizen, born in Wales, and is a Christian—not a Muslim.  Despite these facts, the misinformation ignited a wave of riots, starting in Southport, where a mosque was attacked. The unrest quickly spread to numerous cities across the UK, particularly in the north. There have been Arson attacks, shops have been looted, immigrant-owned businesses and property have been destroyed, hotels housing migrants have been targeted and there have been numerous attacks on brown and black people as well as Police Officers. Those who hold far-right beliefs must understand that the actions of a few individuals from a particular race do not define the entire race.  It is unfair that innocent ethnic minorities have to fear for their safety due to the colour of their skin. The violence of the rioters is not justified and I'm glad that the Law is coming down hard on them.

I've come across multiple videos of rioters being questioned about their motives. Many express anti-immigrant sentiments, with statements such as, "Immigrants are taking over our country," "We want our country back", "Immigrants are taking all of our jobs", "They are committing all the crimes and aren't helping our country". These views are rooted in ignorance. According to the 2021 census, the UK is 81.7% white, with 74.4% being white British—clearly still the majority. Historically, during World War II, around 2.5 million Indian troops supported British soldiers. After the war, facing a labour shortage, the UK invited immigrants from India and the Caribbean to help rebuild the country. Immigrants have made major contributions to British society. Let's not forget that the British Empire colonised/invaded roughly 90% of the world's nations and the exploitation of these nations helped to build the British economy. The UK's current demographic makeup is a direct result of this history.

Another perspective to consider is why these rioters harbour such strong anti-immigrant sentiments. The north of England, in particular, has higher rates of poverty, fewer job opportunities, and higher levels of crime compared to the south. There is a significant North-South divide in the country. Many of these people feel marginalised and forgotten by society, and their frustrations are exacerbated by the false information spread about immigrants by figures such as Tommy Robinson.  I believe this ideology is why the Reform Party had 4 million votes in the last general election. Immigrants have become scapegoats for the broader issues facing the UK, including economic hardship and social inequality. Much of this anger is misplaced, fueled by racism and a lack of understanding that ethnic minorities/immigrants often have to work harder and face barriers that white British people do not.

What does give me hope for the UK is the widespread counter-protests that have taken place across the country which outnumbered the far-right protests. People of all races—Black, White, and Asian have come together to stand against racism. This is the UK I'm proud of. As a Black woman who grew up surrounded by people from all ethnic backgrounds, I have always valued the diversity that makes the UK unique, especially in London. Not everyone in the world has the privilege of experiencing such rich cultural variety. I can have a chat with my Scottish neighbour, order Indian food, and learn Arabic from the Moroccan handyman working on my house. We live in a globalised world, and this diversity is something to be celebrated. I understand that racism will always exist in society, but there are countless individuals committed to building a more inclusive society where people from all walks of life come together to stand up for what is right.