Zimbabwe’s social media sensation Mudiwa Jani, popularly known as Superstar Jani, unexpectedly stole the spotlight from YouTuber, IShowSpeed during the American streamer’s explosive visit to Harare.
IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins Jr, was on the first leg of his Zimbabwe tour when he sent the capital into a frenzy, moving from the Ambuya Nehanda statue in the CBD to Mbare, Trabablas Interchange and Highlands Park, drawing massive crowds and viral attention.
But amid the chaos and excitement, it was Superstar Jani — Speed’s uncanny Zimbabwean lookalike — who became the day’s biggest talking point.
Wearing a Zimbabwe Warriors jersey identical to Speed’s, Mudiwa appeared unexpectedly, shocking both the crowd and the 20-year-old American star himself.
The resemblance was so striking that onlookers struggled to distinguish between the two, triggering wild reactions and viral clips across social media.
“It was electric,” said Mudiwa, a UK-based Zimbabwean social media personality and artist.
“I’ve always been told I look like Speed, but meeting him like that, in front of everyone, was unreal. It changed everything for me.”
Speed, who was born on January 21, 2005, started his YouTube journey at just 11 years old in 2016, initially posting NBA 2K and Fortnite gameplay. His global rise came in 2021 when his high-energy livestreams went viral on TikTok, earning him millions of followers through his authenticity, adaptability and fan engagement.
- YouTuber IShowSpeed brings Harare to a standstill
- Superstar Jani steals limelight from IShowSpeed
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Ironically, those same qualities helped elevate Superstar Jani, whose surprise appearance instantly went viral and made him the unexpected star of the day.
“This moment gave me belief,” Mudiwa said.
“I’m not just a lookalike. I’m building my own brand, my music and my content. This was the beginning.”
As IShowSpeed continues his global tour, his Harare visit will be remembered not only for the excitement he brought to the streets, but for the moment a local lookalike stole the limelight — and turned resemblance into opportunity.
