Nigerian gaming content creator and streamer Basiru Faruk, widely known as DMS, made history on March 13, 2025, by becoming the first African gaming streamer to receive the prestigious YouTube Silver Creator Award. This recognition from the world's largest video platform is awarded to creators who surpass 100,000 subscribers, marking not only a personal achievement for DMS but a historic moment for the entire African gaming community.
The YouTube Silver Creator Award is globally recognized as a key validation milestone on the platform, signifying that a creator has built a substantial and engaged audience. For an African gaming creator to reach this milestone highlights the growing quality of gaming content produced on the continent and the increasing global appetite for it.
DMS's Journey to 100,000 Subscribers
Faruk began his YouTube journey years before this achievement, initially creating gaming content out of pure passion and recording his gameplay wins as personal mementos. His first 1,000 subscribers arrived in 2022. By 2023, he committed to the journey with full consistency, uploading regularly and engaging deeply with his audience. This momentum carried him past the 100,000-subscriber mark by January 2025, with official recognition arriving weeks later.
Reflecting on the achievement, DMS stated: "This award belongs to every young gamer in Africa who was told that gaming is not a career. It is proof that our passion has value, and that the world is watching."
Diverse Gaming Content and Growing Audience
DMS's content spans multiple game titles, from Free Fire, where he first found his footing, to international titles like Call of Duty and PUBG Mobile. His content has attracted an audience that extends well beyond Nigeria, reflecting the universal appeal of great gaming content regardless of geography.
As of April 2026, DMS has continued to build on this achievement. His YouTube channel now stands at 142,000 subscribers with over 12 million views, while his TikTok platform has grown to 2.3 million followers with 50 million views. His Facebook presence adds a further 108,000 followers and over 10 million views, making his digital footprint the largest of any gaming content creator in Africa.
A Historic Milestone for African Gaming
The YouTube Silver Creator Award was the first formal recognition of what the African gaming community already knew: DMS is the standard. With the trajectory he is on, this is only the beginning for the pioneering streamer.
