“Kenya’s Raila seeks Obuo witchdoctors help on election.” That’s the headline on what seems to be a front page of the Vanguard, a Nigerian newspaper, that’s been circulating online since Kenya’s 2017 general election.
The front page photo shows a man in traditional dress. Text below the headline reads: “Opposition leader spends millions in Obuo rituals.”
Raila Odinga is the leader of Kenya’s opposition Orange Democratic Movement. He stood for the 2017 presidential election under the National Super Alliance coalition.
The front page has recently resurfaced on Facebook.
But did the Vanguard really report this?
A hint that the front page may have been manipulated is that the photo’s caption has nothing to do with the man in traditional dress. It begins: “EDITORS’ CONFERENCE – “From left: Secretary to the Government of ...”
A reverse image search for the Vanguard front page reveals that it originally had a very different headline and photo – and was published nearly seven years ago.
The original dates back to 23 August 2013. The real headline reads: “APC, other opposition parties jittery - Jonathan.” The photo shows delegates to a Nigeria Guild of Editors conference.
A Google search for the headline “APC, other opposition parties jittery - Jonathan” confirms that the story was published on 23 August 2013 in the Vanguard. – Dancan Bwire
The front page photo shows a man in traditional dress. Text below the headline reads: “Opposition leader spends millions in Obuo rituals.”
Raila Odinga is the leader of Kenya’s opposition Orange Democratic Movement. He stood for the 2017 presidential election under the National Super Alliance coalition.
The front page has recently resurfaced on Facebook.
But did the Vanguard really report this?
Article on Nigerian politics from 2013
A hint that the front page may have been manipulated is that the photo’s caption has nothing to do with the man in traditional dress. It begins: “EDITORS’ CONFERENCE – “From left: Secretary to the Government of ...”
A reverse image search for the Vanguard front page reveals that it originally had a very different headline and photo – and was published nearly seven years ago.
The original dates back to 23 August 2013. The real headline reads: “APC, other opposition parties jittery - Jonathan.” The photo shows delegates to a Nigeria Guild of Editors conference.
A Google search for the headline “APC, other opposition parties jittery - Jonathan” confirms that the story was published on 23 August 2013 in the Vanguard. – Dancan Bwire
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Further Reading
[email protected]: The challenges of working across Africa
Misinformation knows no borders and Africa Check often responds to similar false claims from country to country.
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