Entertainment
iShowSpeed Live Stream: A win for Ghana Tourism
iShowSpeed, known in private life as Darren Jason Watkins Jr. is a 21-year-old American YouTube streamer known for unfiltered contents, games, and athleticism, among others.
Currently, he has over 50 million subscribers on YouTube, over 47 million subscribers on TikTok, 45 million on instagram and over eight million following on facebook and millions on other platforms like Snapchat, twitch as well as X
iShowspeed averages between 80 to 100 million views per post on TikTok, and largely his primary audience on these platforms are African Americans, europeans and Africans among others.
In 2024, Ghana’s tourism sector generated $4.82 billion, contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after receiving about 1.2 million inbound tourists.
Interestingly, out of this number, America, Nigeria and the UK were our top three countries where most of our visitors came from.
America was number one with 137,862, followed by Nigeria with 111,581 and the UK, with 52,845 people.
This means that in a world where influence is a currency and visibility is a power which can be turned into wealth generation, Ghana must maximise every digital marketing opportunity which has the tendency to help consolidate the gains in these countries.
Millions could be pumped into different advertising ventures, but it would have been difficult to generate the earned media and organic conversation which the country is receiving from all over the world as a result of the live stream.
This postive reviews the country is receiving since the stream can be turned into bookings, visits, investments, employment and others from short, medium, to long term.
It is therefore not surprising that the stream has led to the Shea Butter Museum being fully booked till March 16, 2026.
We should not also lose sight of the fact that tourism goes beyond visiting. It includes spending in markets, hotel accommodation, transportation (flight, vehicle, and other forms), tourist sites, destination marketers, food and other industries in the value chain. These industries hugely benefit from tourism as the mother of other sectors.
Clearly, the country could leverage global visibility through the iShowSpeed lens and platforms, along with millions of reviews from content creators worldwide, to build significant equity.
This could be turned into a soft power, to introduce our tourism assets, among others, to the rest of the world.
It must be noted that this visit is hinged on tourism marketing through digital media, which is crucial in today’s world of advertising for future growth.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Award-winning Ghanaian musician, Wendy Asiamah Addo, known in showbiz circles as Wendy Shay, is poised for Artiste of the Year crown this year.
Through her hard work last year, the musician has earned about seven nominations for this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
Wendy Shay was nominated for Artiste of the Year, Album of the Year, Afrobeats Song of the Year, Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste of the Year, International Collaboration of the Year, Collaboration of the Year and Most Popular Song of the Year.
Speaking exclusively to her management, they said Wendy Shay last year graced over 40 shows, including her successful Shay Concert held at the West Hills Mall in Accra on November 22, 2025.
Additionally, they noted that through her hard work, she had international features with Movado (Apology), Phina (Too Late Remix), Bedjine (Too Late Remix), Guchi (Too Late Remix) and Niggy Boy (Weed & Wine).
They further told the paper that her ‘Ready’ album garnered over 25 million streams across all platforms, including massive airplays, adding that most of the songs featured prominently at parties and diverse events in Ghana and beyond.
Her management concluded that the hard work made her brand very attractive for Corporate Ghana, a feat which led Wendy Shay to secure ambassadorial deals with Peeva and Hisense.
Against this backdrop, they are optimistic that Wendy Shay is in pole position to win the coveted Artiste of the Year crown this year, and therefore called on industry players, all and sundry to vote for her.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Ghanaian highlife and Afrobeat musician Berima Amo has signed a new international recording deal with UK-based world music label ARC Music, a move seen as another boost for the global recognition of West African music.
Known for blending traditional highlife with Afrobeat, jazz and other global influences, Amo has become a strong advocate for preserving and promoting authentic African musical heritage while introducing it to new audiences around the world.
The announcement comes ahead of the release of his much-anticipated album “Rhythms of Love,” recorded live at Studio 150 Bethlehemkerk in Amsterdam. The album will be released worldwide on May 24, preceded by two singles: “Fake Flowers” on May 1 and “Yaba” featuring Tallulah Rose on May 8, 2026.
The new project is expected to expand Amo’s reputation as both a cultural preserver and musical innovator, pushing the boundaries of African sound through powerful rhythms and cross-genre fusion.
With five albums, two EPs and ten singles already available across major streaming platforms, Berima Amo continues to grow his global audience.
Berima Amo, a singer, trumpeter, composer and bandleader originally from Ghana and now active in Europe, has built a reputation for preserving the roots of highlife while reimagining it for modern audiences. Through performances, collaborations and educational initiatives, he has championed traditional African rhythms and instruments while blending them with Afrobeat, jazz, soul and orchestral music.
Many in the industry now view Amo as a torchbearer for authentic West African music, continuing the legacy of legendary figures such as E. T. Mensah, The Ramblers International Band, Rex Lawson, Ebo Taylor, Nana Ampadu, King Onyina, Osibisa and Fela Kuti, helping to carry the sound of West Africa to the world.
