Barima Kofi Akuffo
In January 2026, the world watched IShowSpeed kneel before Akan royalty and rise with a new name. This is the full story behind it — what the name means, the ceremony that gave it, and the centuries-old tradition it comes from.
The name the whole internet started saying
It happened during "Speed Does Africa" — IShowSpeed's whirlwind 28-day tour across 20 African countries. When the 21-year-old streamer, born Darren Watkins Jr., arrived in Ghana, something shifted. He told his millions of viewers his mother is Ghanaian. He said being there felt like coming back home.
Then came the moment nobody expected. At Akropong, in Ghana's Eastern Region, local chiefs and elders welcomed him the Akan way: with kente cloth, thundering fontomfrom drums, and a formal naming ceremony at the palace of the Okuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III. Speed danced. He did a backflip. And he walked out as Barima Kofi Akuffo — a name carrying the weight of bravery, heritage, and royal lineage.
Days later, Ghana's Foreign Minister confirmed the country would issue him a Ghanaian passport, calling him a "worthy ambassador." A streamer had become family.
⚡ Key facts
- The name: Barima Kofi Akuffo — the exact spelling bestowed at the ceremony (sometimes written Barima Kofi Kuffo)
- Given: Monday, January 26, 2026, at Akropong, Eastern Region
- By: The Okuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III
- The tour: "Speed Does Africa" — 20 countries in 28 days
- Aftermath: Ghanaian passport approved for IShowSpeed
What does Barima Kofi Akuffo mean?
Every part of an Akan name is doing work. Here's the breakdown — and there's a lot more where this came from.
A brave, strong, noble man — the word for a warrior or hero. It is a title of honour, not given lightly.
The Akan name for a male born on a Friday — tied to creativity, calm, and adaptability.
A respected Akan family name linking him to the Akuapem royal lineage — the exact spelling bestowed at the ceremony.
A king, a streamer, and a backflip
🪘 The welcome
Hundreds gathered as fontomfrom drums thundered. Speed arrived to a hero's reception, draped in specially prepared kente cloth with beads at his neck and wrists.
👑 The moment
Before the Okuapemhene and his elders, Speed paid homage in the Akan custom — and was formally presented with his new name, sealing his welcome into the community.
🤸 The backflip
Then he did what only Speed would do at a royal ceremony: a backflip, to the delight of the cheering crowd. Tradition met the internet, and the internet loved it.
What's your Ghanaian name?
In Akan culture, the day of the week you're born gives you your first name. Speed got Kofi because Friday is his day. Enter your birthday and find yours — then read the full story of the tradition.
Questions everyone asks
What is IShowSpeed's Ghanaian name?
Barima Kofi Akuffo — widely also written Barima Kofi Akuffo. It was bestowed on him on January 26, 2026, by the Okuapemhene (Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III) during a traditional Akan naming ceremony at Akropong in Ghana's Eastern Region.
What does Barima Kofi Akuffo mean?
"Barima" means a brave, strong, noble man — a warrior or hero. "Kofi" is the Akan day name for a male born on Friday, associated with creativity and adaptability. "Akuffo" is a respected Akan family name that symbolically links him to the Akuapem royal lineage.
Is it spelled Kuffo, Akuffo or Akufo?
News coverage of the ceremony spells it "Akuffo" — double f. "Kuffo" is a common variant of the same Akan family name, and "Akufo" (single f) is another accepted variant, most famously in former president Nana Akufo-Addo's name. For Speed's naming specifically, every report uses "Akuffo." This site uses the official "Akuffo" spelling.
Did IShowSpeed really get a Ghanaian passport?
Yes. After his January 2026 visit, Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed approval of a Ghanaian passport for IShowSpeed, calling him a "worthy ambassador" who projected Ghana positively to a global audience.
Why did Ghana give a streamer a traditional name?
Speed told his audience his mother is Ghanaian and described the visit as feeling like "back home." The chiefs and elders of Akropong honoured that connection — and his massive platform spotlighting Ghanaian culture — with the highest welcome in Akan tradition: a name.
Where can I watch the naming ceremony?
Clips from the ceremony spread across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram in late January 2026 — search "IShowSpeed naming ceremony Ghana" or "Barima Kofi Akuffo." Our ceremony story page walks through exactly what happened.