American internet sensation iShowSpeed has teamed up with former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama to bring the documentary The Eyes of Ghana to a wider cinema audience, in an unexpected collaboration spotlighting Ghana’s history and African independence.
The streamer, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has joined the project as a producer alongside Breakwater Studios and Higher Ground Productions, the media company founded by the Obamas. Barack and Michelle Obama serve as executive producers on the documentary, which is directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot.
The film is scheduled for a special one-night theatrical screening on October 28, 2026, at participating cinemas across the United States and Canada, including major chains such as AMC, Regal and Cinemark, alongside selected independent theatres.
The Eyes of Ghana follows veteran Ghanaian cinematographer Rev. Dr. Chris Tsui Hesse, who served as personal cameraman to Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.
Now 93, Hesse is working to preserve and restore more than 1,000 reels of historical footage documenting Ghana’s independence era and the wider African liberation movement during the 1950s and 1960s.
The archive captures an important period in African history, including the political and cultural developments surrounding Ghana’s emergence as an independent nation. The documentary follows Hesse’s efforts to protect this visual record before his deteriorating eyesight and the passage of time make the task more difficult.
The footage offers a rare historical perspective on Ghana’s early years of independence and the people and events that shaped the country’s journey.
iShowSpeed’s involvement brings the documentary into the orbit of a global online audience, particularly younger viewers who may be less familiar with Ghana’s independence history. His interest in the project reportedly deepened after visiting Ghana earlier in 2026. He said the experience strengthened his connection to the country and gave him a greater appreciation of its history and people.
The streamer has since helped promote the documentary’s trailer to his audience, using his online reach to draw attention to Hesse’s work and the importance of preserving historical records. The collaboration also represents a new step in iShowSpeed’s career, marking his first producing role in a documentary film.
Through Higher Ground Productions, Barack and Michelle Obama have joined the project as executive producers, supporting a film centred on cultural heritage, historical preservation and the importance of making overlooked stories accessible to new audiences.
Directed by Ben Proudfoot, The Eyes of Ghana premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and subsequently screened at other international film festivals. Its upcoming theatrical release aims to introduce the documentary to audiences beyond the festival circuit, combining traditional filmmaking with iShowSpeed’s substantial digital following.
For a younger generation discovering African history through digital platforms, the partnership offers an opportunity to encounter a chapter of the past through the work of a veteran Ghanaian filmmaker.
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