I was scrolling through twitter when I came across a random tweet from a more random twitter user. I can’t remember the exact wordings but basically he was prophesying that 2025 would be the year of streaming in Nigeria. I agreed. In fact, I almost considered live streaming too, why not? Four months in and we have had Davido with the Subaru Boys, Sien and his intrusive thoughts and Zlatan seizing Carter Efe’s on TikTok, all I can say is Lisan al gaib!
The previous year saw streamers around the world rise to unprecedented heights with Kai Cenat and iShowSpeed pioneering a new wave of superstar streamers, changing what it means to be a live streamer. Their crazy antics, backed up by their over the top crazier life adventures saw made sure that content was in surplus. Shouts of being performative or cringe were easily drowned by the ocean of fans these new age streamers had started to amass, and the fans brought in their idols, and their idols became fans. Collaborations with celebrities and entertainment giants saw streamers achieve new heights. So big their influence, the entire world turn their eyes to their screens to view them. and like all global sensations, it kick started a global trend of streamers around the world. And You Know Nigeria is definitely going to be there.
The year streaming came to Nigeria
Streaming culture has always been there in Nigeria. It’s nothing new. Tomide (more commonly known as playwithtomide has been live streaming his FIFA and gaming journey on TikTok and YouTube for almost five years. TikTok streamers have been around since the conception of the app and yes even Afrobeat Icon Dr Sid is an active twitch streamer; a product of his venture into the gaming industry.
But what makes this year feel different.
The streaming pool in Nigeria was monopolized by the game and adult content creators. With the latter being quite profitable. However, 2024 and especially this year have marked a paradigm shift with more Nigerian creators tapping into the full potential of streaming-covering everything from music to lifestyle, sports commentaries and even real time event discussions. A shift that is not only making streaming more mainstream but is also redefining entertainment in the country.
What it means
A lot. The possibilities of stream channels and live streaming remain limitless especially with its already fast reception and collaboration with the music industry. From artist having direct engagements with their fans online, to playing unreleased songs and marketing and media runs, the benefits remain endless.
Streaming also bridges the gap between the different segments of the entertainment industry, music, gaming, lifestyle and content etc. are all brought together by streaming like never before, the intersection of all these and more can only lead to monumental increase across the entire industry.
Apart from all these, livestraming represents a new era of digital entertainment, way different from the usual radio, television and even traditional social media. With more access to internet and a very soon imminent rise in in streamers in Nigeria, it would give normal people control of what kind of content to create and stream, a global entertainment landscape awaits and I for one cannot wait to see who would be Nigeria’s first global twitch streamer!
STREAMS YOU SHOULD FW
1. SUBARU BOYS STREAM
Santi and the Subaru boys are spreading the gospel of alte and the bounce through their weekly streams on Twitch. The stream that kicked off in February this year has already seen the likes of Slawn, Teni and Afrobeat Legend Davido, hanging with the alte pioneer. 
2. SIEN_wtf
‘The walking intrusive thought’ and all round creative has brought his one of a kind personality to Twitch.The stream that kicked off early in March, is already becoming a fan favorite especially among genz creatives in Nigeria. On his stream, Sien majorly reacts to new music as well as works of creatives around Nigeria, although that doesn’t stop him from being relational and a humorously insane chatterbox. He has already has fast rising Abuja superstar ‘Firstklaz’ in his stream when he was in the capital city. 
3. RYNEZNO
Enzo, known professionally as rynenzo is a twitch streamer known most famously for his gaming streams especially on FIFA and go kart racing. His streams, characterizes by its dynamic and interactive nature and fuelled by collaborations with other streamers makes it one of the most interesting streams in Nigeria. As well as his whooping 17.8k+ followers on Twitch. His other social media accounts like TikTok and Instagram have surpassed over 260k followers and 140k followers respectively. 
4. Peller
At only 19, Habeeb Hamzat or Peller is already the biggest streamer in Africa and he’s bent on taking his TikTok live streams and his comical unruly behavior to the world. Whether it is with his comedy series, ‘Peller Palava’ or his relationship content with fellow TikTok creator , Peller’s streams have and continues to gather massive attraction proving he has what it ties to be the biggest streamer in Africa even though his many haters would not agree. 
5. CarterEfe
Fans of the bumbling comedian and skit maker l now enjoy more of CarterEfe’s content via his livestreams on TikTok and Twitch. Carter’s livestream is a game stream where he and his guests usually brawl out on FC25(fifa) but that’s not all, his line up this year has seen Zlatan seize his phone, ODUMODOBLVCK preview new music as well a stream with Blaqbonez. So far the stream offers unfiltered humor and content especially with your favorite artists 
6. AmaarFLT
AmaarFLt is a female game streamer on Twitch as well as conten creator. She specializes in Apex legends and Marvel Rivals and is one of the foremost leading female game streamers, an industry nomally coveted and dominateby Guys esecially in Nigeria. The 'professional button masher’ is also very funny as she gathers audience across her social media accounts with her gameing contents and highlights of her streams. 