The short version
- What: The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary about Chris Hesse, Kwame Nkrumah's personal cameraman, and the footage he saved.
- Who: directed by Ben Proudfoot. Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground is behind it, and IShowSpeed joined as a producer.
- When: one night only, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in participating US and Canadian cinemas.
- Tickets: through the film's official site, TheEyesOfGhana.com.
You may have seen the headline going around Facebook: "Barack Obama team up with IShowSpeed to produce documentary on Ghana's independence." It's real, with one small correction. The film already existed. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, and Speed has now joined as a producer to help bring it to a much bigger, much younger audience. Here's what you need to know, how to watch it, and how to stand in the places it shows.
What is The Eyes of Ghana about?
The film follows Reverend Dr. Chris Hesse, now in his 90s, who was Kwame Nkrumah's personal cinematographer through the 1950s and 1960s. He filmed the speeches, state visits and everyday moments of Ghana's first years as an independent nation.
When Nkrumah was overthrown in February 1966, much of that history was at risk of being destroyed. Hesse protected more than a thousand reels of film. Decades later, with his eyesight failing, he's working with young Ghanaian filmmaker Anita Afonu to pass on what he knows and keep the archive alive. It's a story about who gets to hold a nation's memory, and it's directed by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot.
Where do the Obamas and IShowSpeed come in?
- Barack and Michelle Obama are executive producers through their company, Higher Ground, alongside Proudfoot's Breakwater Studios.
- IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.) joined as a producer after his Ghana trip earlier in 2026, his first film credit. He shared the trailer on a livestream on October 15 and called it "a great honour to be part of The Eyes of Ghana."
That pairing matters. The Obamas bring the prestige, and Speed brings millions of young viewers who might never have heard Chris Hesse's name. For the diaspora, it's a rare moment when our history gets a cinema release in America.
How to watch The Eyes of Ghana
| Date | Wednesday, October 28, 2026 (one night only) |
| Where | Participating cinemas across the US and Canada, including select AMC, Regal and Cinemark locations |
| Tickets | TheEyesOfGhana.com → "Get Tickets" → search your city |
| Runtime / rating | About 1 hour 31 minutes, rated PG (per Cinemark's listing) |
| Streaming | Not announced yet |
See Nkrumah's Ghana in person
If the film stirs something in you (and I think it will), here are the places where that history lives. All of them fit into a trip to Accra and the coast.
1. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Accra
Built on the old Polo Grounds, where Nkrumah declared independence at midnight on March 6, 1957. The park holds his mausoleum and a museum of his life. If you watch one scene in the film and want to stand where it happened, start here.
2. Black Star Square and Independence Arch, Accra
The huge parade ground built for the young nation, crowned by the Black Star. It's still where Ghana celebrates Independence Day every March 6.
3. W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, Accra
The home of the great Pan-Africanist, who moved to Ghana at Nkrumah's invitation and is buried there. It's a powerful stop for anyone who sees themselves in the story of the diaspora.
4. Nkroful, Western Region
Nkrumah's birthplace, and the site of his first resting place. It's a longer drive, but easy to pair with a trip to Cape Coast and the beaches of the west.
5. Cape Coast and Elmina castles
The other half of the story: what Ghana became free from. Read my Cape Coast Castle guide before you go.
Browse Ghana history tours Find Accra hotels Plan your Ghana trip
Planning a trip home?
Independence Day (March 6) and Detty December are the two most electric times to visit. Whenever you go, don't forget the yellow fever card. Ghana won't let you in without it, and my Ghana travel health checklist covers everything else.
Frequently asked questions
When is The Eyes of Ghana in theaters?
For one night only, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in participating cinemas across the US and Canada. Tickets are available through TheEyesOfGhana.com.
Did Barack Obama and IShowSpeed make The Eyes of Ghana?
The film is directed by Ben Proudfoot and produced by Breakwater Studios with the Obamas' Higher Ground. IShowSpeed joined as a producer in 2026 to help bring it to wider audiences.
What is The Eyes of Ghana about?
It follows Chris Hesse, Kwame Nkrumah's personal cameraman, who protected more than a thousand reels of footage from Ghana's early independence years, and his work to pass the archive on to a new generation.
Is The Eyes of Ghana streaming?
No streaming release has been announced yet. The October 28, 2026 screening is a one-night theatrical event.
Where did Ghana declare independence?
At the old Polo Grounds in Accra, at midnight on March 6, 1957. The site is now the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.