iShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.) didn’t just visit Ethiopia; he broke the server.
When the streamer touched down in Addis Ababa for his "Speed Does Africa" tour, he expected the usual chaos. He got that—streets shut down, mobs of fans, and ear-shattering barks. But then he hit a glitch that stopped him cold.
He asked the date. The answer? 2018.
"You just became 8 years younger... this is science fiction," Speed yelled, realizing he had technically traveled back to a time when Fortnite was new and Ronaldo was still at Real Madrid.
Here is the breakdown of the ishowspeed in addis ababa moment that confused the internet, and why Ethiopia is the ultimate travel flex.
The "DLC" Calendar
Speed wasn't pranking. The Ethiopia calendar is literally built different.
While the rest of the world updated their clocks in 525 AD, Ethiopia kept the original settings. They calculate the birth of Jesus differently, putting them 7 to 8 years "behind" the Gregorian calendar.
They also unlocked a bonus level: a 13th month called Pagumē.
- 12 Months: 30 days each.
- 13th Month: 5 or 6 days.
- The Result: "13 Months of Sunshine."
It’s not lag. It’s legacy.
Barefoot at the Victory Point
The stream wasn't all jokes. Speed visited the Adwa Victory Memorial and did something rare: he took off his shoes.
For the casual viewer, it was just Speed being Speed. For locals, it was respect. Adwa is where Ethiopia defeated Italy in 1896, ensuring it remained the only African nation never colonized. By walking barefoot, Speed tapped into a deep tradition of honoring holy ground. He went from "content creator" to pilgrim.
The Speed Tree
Between the barks and the backflips, Speed planted a tree. This links to Ethiopia's "Green Legacy" initiative, which claims to plant millions of trees to combat climate change. Somewhere in Addis, a "Speed Tree" is now growing in 2018 soil, while the rest of the world lives in 2026.
Why You Should Join the Lobby
Speed proved that Ethiopian time (where the day starts at sunrise, not midnight) and culture are worth the trip. The internet is cool, but the real map is better. Don't just watch the clips. Come seeing the "Science Fiction" yourself.
Why is Ethiopia in 2018?
Read more about why Ethiopian calendar is 7-8 years behind the Western calendar and why this is the symbol of African pride
Ethiopian Calendar
