"It felt like home": How Speed is helping save Ghana's past

• American streamer IShowSpeed became a producer of The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary about preserving rare footage from Ghana's independence era
• The film follows 93-year-old cinematographer Chris Hesse and his mission to protect over 1,000 historical films tied to African liberation movements
• Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground joined the project as executive producers, which has divided some fans online

One of the internet's loudest personalities has quietly stepped into a role nobody saw coming. IShowSpeed, the 21-year-old American streamer whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., has signed on as a producer for The Eyes of Ghana, a documentary centred on the urgent effort to rescue and preserve rare archival footage from Ghana's fight for independence.

The film spotlights 93-year-old cinematographer Chris Hesse, who spent decades documenting Ghana's independence era and broader African liberation movements. Hesse's collection spans more than 1,000 films, some of which survived only because they were safely stored in London, away from those who sought to erase them. The documentary's tone is sombre and reverent, weaving together black-and-white newsreel footage featuring figures such as Kwame Nkrumah and JFK, newspaper clippings, and a present-day interview with Hesse himself.

Speed is joined in the project by Breakwater Studios and Higher Ground, the production company founded by former US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, who serve as executive producers on the film.

Speed's Ghana visit sparked the collaboration

During a livestream on Thursday, 15 October 2026, Speed opened up about what drew him to the project. "I went to Ghana this year, and it felt like home," he told his audience, crediting his earlier visit to the country as the moment that sparked his involvement.

A special one-night theatrical screening is planned for 28 October 2026 at participating cinemas across the United States and Canada. A screening date for Ghana itself has not yet been announced.

Watch the documentary trailer that set the internet alight:

Fans react to the unlikely collaboration

The announcement split social media sharply. Some praised Speed for using his platform in a meaningful way, while others raised concerns about the Obamas' involvement.

@ArjunK100 wrote: "I can't believe the loudest streamer online is making a documentary to save Africa's history. Speed is doing everything."

@zillaofgod16421 added: "Genuinely, how has speed managed to do more good than most actual people in charge 😭"

Not everyone was as enthusiastic. @xoesedd, who identified as Ghanaian, shared a more cautious take: "I'm Ghanaian, and I was happy about this until I heard the Obamas were involved. Obama is responsible for the collapse of Libya. Those people don't have good intentions towards Africa."

@tafkaay raised deeper concerns about how Nkrumah's legacy might be framed: "So they bout to give Nkrumah the Mandela treatment. Make him likeable & palatable. Deradicalise, derevolutionize, decontextualise, obamify. Nobody liked Nkrumah when he was setting us free. Till today, no one likes revolutionaries. Not fellow Africans, certainly not the American movie industry."

IShowSpeed rates South African women

Briefly News previously reported that IShowSpeed reflected on his memorable South Africa visit during his Africa tour, praising its stunning women and vibrant culture in a heartfelt interview.

Source: Briefly News