Influencer
iShowSpeed Partners With Obamas’ Higher Ground to Bring Ghanaian Documentary to Theaters
Darren Watkins Jr., the YouTube creator known as iShowSpeed, is producing a documentary about Ghana’s independence era alongside Higher Ground, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, and Breakwater Studios. As Business Insider Africa reported, the companies will bring “The Eyes of Ghana” to theaters across the United States and Canada for a one-night screening on October 28, with tickets available to the public.
The documentary follows cinematographer Chris Hesse, whose eyesight is deteriorating, as he works to preserve more than 1,000 films documenting Africa’s independence struggle during the 1950s and 1960s. The footage stayed hidden for decades after Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, was overthrown in 1966. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“It is a great honor to be part of ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ and help bring this extraordinary piece of history to the big screen,” iShowSpeed said in a statement. “I felt a profound connection to Ghana when I visited this year, and learning about Chris Hesse’s work deepened my understanding of the country and its people. His camera captured the birth of African independence, and his determination to preserve those images has ensured that future generations can witness it for themselves. I’m humbled by his legacy and proud to help bring his story to my community.”
Ethan Lewis, Head of Non-Fiction at Higher Ground, framed the project as a preservation effort. “Chris Hesse spent more than six decades documenting and safeguarding an extraordinary chapter of Ghanaian and African history,” Lewis said. “Higher Ground is proud to partner with iShowSpeed, Ben Proudfoot, and Breakwater Studios and this accomplished team of artists to bring this remarkable story to theaters on Oct. 28th. ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ speaks to the power of film to preserve our collective memory, and to the responsibility we share in making sure these stories reach the next generation.”
iShowSpeed’s ties to Ghana predate the project. In January, Ghana’s Foreign Minister announced approval of a Ghanaian passport for the streamer following his 28-day, 20-country tour of Africa, citing what the minister called his “irrefutable ties” to the country. iShowSpeed told his livestream audience during the tour that his mother was from Ghana and took part in a traditional naming ceremony there, receiving the name Barima Kofi Akuffo.
iShowSpeed is credited as a producer on the film alongside Nana Adwoa Frimpong, Moses Bwayo, Anita Afonu, Brandon Somerhalder, Lewis, and Vinnie Malhotra. Barack and Michelle Obama serve as executive producers along with Sir John Akomfrah, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, Paula Madison, Dan and Lian Gill, Max Johnson, Jonathan E. Lim, Michael Risley, Josh Rosenberg, David Treatman, and Esther Wojcicki.
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