An internet superstar, a former US president and a 93-year-old Ghanaian cameraman make an unlikely team. But together they are bringing one of the most important chapters of African history back to life.

The Eyes of Ghana, a new documentary about the birth of Ghana's independence, hits cinemas in the United States and Canada for one night only on October 28, 2026. It is produced by American streamer IShowSpeed, with former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as executive producers through their company, Higher Ground.

The man behind the camera

The film is not mainly about Dr Kwame Nkrumah himself. It is about the man who filmed him.

Christian Tsui Hesse, better known as Chris Hesse, was Nkrumah's personal cameraman. His lens captured Ghana's independence and Africa's wider struggle against colonial rule in the 1950s and 1960s.

After the 1966 coup that removed Nkrumah from power, much of that footage disappeared from public view for decades. Hesse saved more than 1,000 film reels. The documentary follows him, now in his 90s with failing eyesight, as he races to rescue and preserve this archive before it is lost forever.

The film is directed by Ben Proudfoot, an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker.

How IShowSpeed got involved

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., visited Ghana earlier this year and has described the country as a place that felt like home. In a video on X on October 15, he said he reached out to the filmmakers after learning about the project and asked how he could help, and ended up joining as a producer.

He has said he is humbled by Hesse's legacy and proud to bring his story to his community.

Why it matters

1. It rescues history that was almost lost

After the 1966 coup, Nkrumah's government was erased from public life almost overnight. Statues came down, and much of the visual record of his era was hidden away. Without Chris Hesse's determination, many images of Ghana's independence years might never have been seen again.

Film reels decay over time. Every year that passes puts more of this archive at risk. By telling Hesse's story, the documentary draws attention to the urgent need to protect Africa's audiovisual heritage before it crumbles.

2. It shows Africa's story through African eyes

Much of the footage of Africa's independence era that the world has seen was shot by foreign news crews. Hesse's films are different: they record the birth of a nation from inside, through the lens of a Ghanaian who was there. The title says it all: these were the eyes of Ghana.

3. It honours Nkrumah's legacy at a poignant moment

The film arrives just days after the death of Gamal Nkrumah, the first President's son, in Cairo on October 14. For many Ghanaians, it is a timely reminder of the vision of a free, united Africa that Nkrumah championed, and of the people who helped document it.

4. It reaches a generation that history books don't

This may be the most powerful part. IShowSpeed is one of the world's most-watched streamers, with a huge audience of young people, many of whom may never have heard of Kwame Nkrumah or Ghana's role in African liberation.

Speed's visit to Ghana earlier this year drew huge attention online. Putting his name behind a historical documentary could introduce millions of young people, especially in the African diaspora, to a story they might otherwise never encounter.

5. It puts Ghana on the global stage, again

With the Obamas and IShowSpeed attached, The Eyes of Ghana brings fresh global attention to the country's history, culture and heritage. For Ghana's tourism and creative industries, that kind of spotlight is hard to buy.

How to watch

What about Ghana?

Here is the question many Ghanaians are already asking: when will we get to see it?

No screening in Ghana has been announced so far. For a film about Ghana's own history, shot by a Ghanaian, many will feel it belongs on screens in Accra, Kumasi and Nkroful just as much as in New York or Toronto. A Ghana premiere, or a wider streaming release, would allow the people whose story it tells to see it for themselves.