- Reverend Dr Chris Tsui Hesse, who served as Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah's personal cameraman, is gaining international recognition at age 94
- The veteran cinematographer preserved more than 1,300 reels of historical footage documenting Ghana's independence era and Nkrumah's leadership
- American streamer IShowSpeed is a producer of The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary executive-produced by former US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama
Reverend Dr Chris Tsui Hesse, a veteran Ghanaian cinematographer who documented the country's first president, Kwame Nkrumah, is receiving renewed international attention at the age of 94.
Source: Facebook
Hesse filmed important moments during Ghana's independence era, when the country was establishing itself as an independent nation and movements for liberation were gaining momentum across Africa.
His life and work are now the focus of The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary backed by Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and popular American streamer IShowSpeed.
Directed by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, the film explores Hesse's career and his efforts to preserve historical footage that could otherwise have been lost.
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How Chris Hesse preserved Ghana's history
Hesse worked as Nkrumah's personal cinematographer during the 1950s and 1960s, travelling with the president and recording speeches, official visits and political events.
He was also accompanying Nkrumah on a trip abroad when Ghana's first president was overthrown on February 24, 1966.
Following the coup, many recordings associated with Nkrumah's administration faced the risk of destruction. Hesse managed to preserve more than 1,300 reels of film, with the negatives kept in London for decades.
The surviving archive provides rare footage of Ghana's early years of independence and Nkrumah's ambitions for a united Africa.
The documentary also follows Hesse as his eyesight deteriorates, making the recovery and digitization of the recordings increasingly urgent.
Working alongside young Ghanaian filmmaker Anita Afonu, Hesse hopes to pass his knowledge to a new generation and help audiences experience historical events through footage captured by people who witnessed them as reported by Yen News.
IShowSpeed and the Obamas help bring his story to a global audience
The documentary is executive-produced by Barack and Michelle Obama through their production company, Higher Ground.
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., recently joined the project as a producer.
Following his visit to Ghana earlier in 2026, the popular streamer said learning about Hesse's work deepened his appreciation of the country's people and history.
His involvement has also helped introduce the documentary to his large international following.
When will The Eyes of Ghana be released?
The Eyes of Ghana premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025 and had screenings in Ghana in April 2026.
Its next major cinema release is scheduled for October 28, 2026, with special one-night screenings planned across the United States and Canada.
For Hesse, the renewed attention offers another opportunity for the historical footage he worked to save more than half a century ago to reach audiences and preserve the story of Ghana's past for future generations.
Source: TUKO.co.ke