American internet sensation IShowSpeed has joined the production of The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary showcasing rare historical footage of Ghana’s independence struggle captured by Chris Hesse, the personal cinematographer of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The project brings together Breakwater Studios and Higher Ground Productions, the film production company established by former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., is expected to help introduce the documentary and Hesse’s extensive collection of archival footage to a broader international audience, potentially connecting younger viewers with a defining period in Ghana’s history.
Directed by two-time Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ben Proudfoot, the 90-minute production follows Hesse’s efforts to preserve film records documenting significant events in Ghana and across Africa during the 1950s and 1960s.
Hesse worked closely with Dr Nkrumah, capturing moments surrounding Ghana’s independence as well as developments in the wider African movement against colonial rule. His archive reportedly contains more than 1,000 films offering a visual record of the era.
However, following the 1966 coup that removed Nkrumah from power, much of the collection remained away from public view for decades.
The documentary chronicles Hesse’s determination to protect the historic material despite advancing age and deteriorating eyesight. It also follows his efforts to transfer his knowledge and legacy to a younger generation of filmmakers, including Ghanaian filmmaker Anita Afonu.
IShowSpeed’s involvement comes after his visit to Ghana earlier in 2026, when the streamer attracted widespread attention and spoke about his connection with the country and its people.
He has described his participation in the project as an honour, highlighting the importance of bringing Hesse’s work to a wider audience and safeguarding Ghana’s historical records for future generations.
The Eyes of Ghana is scheduled for a special one-night theatrical screening on October 28, 2026, at participating cinemas across the United States. Screening arrangements for Ghana and the United Kingdom are expected to be announced separately.
Beyond documenting the country’s independence era, the film seeks to draw attention to the value of preserving original visual records that help explain Ghana’s place in Africa’s struggle for freedom and self-determination.
With IShowSpeed’s substantial international following and the involvement of Higher Ground Productions, the documentary could help bring Ghana’s history to audiences who may be unfamiliar with the events that shaped the country and influenced the wider decolonisation movement across Africa.
The project also places renewed focus on Hesse’s contribution to preserving a significant chapter of Ghana’s national story, ensuring that images captured during a transformative period remain available to inform and inspire generations to come.
🚨| BREAKING: Speed takes a HUGE STEP beyond streaming with his FIRST EVER film as a producer “THE EYES OF GHANA” as its FIRST TRAILER officially drops
– The documentary follows Ghanaian cinematographer Chris Hesse as he attempts to SAVE over 1,000 historic films documenting Africa’s fight for INDEPENDENCE in the 1950s and 1960s. https://t.co/bE2H1MeZBg
— Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) October 15, 2026
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