Doctored: Image Showing Raila Being Crowned An Elder In Nigeria Is Altered

An image showing Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga being crowned an elder in Nigeria is doctored.

The image was shared by Facebook user Luke C Divines on September 2, 2023, insinuating that the opposition leader had been crowned a special Osun-Osogbo elder.

“Kenya’s veteran Opposition leader Raila Odinga was yesterday evening crowned a special Osun-Osogbo elder at an invite-only ceremony held at a “sacred grove” along the banks of Osun River, Osogbo City, Nigeria,” the user captioned the image.

According to a reverse image search on Google, the original image was of the former president of the Central African Republic, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, who was overthrown in 1979 after 14 years in power and died in 1996.

According to the BBC, “Bokassa came to power in a coup in 1965 and ruled ruthlessly, torturing and killing political rivals.”

Bokassa crowned himself the emperor in 1976 before being overthrown three years later after his guards killed several school-going children.

According to Getty Images, the photo was taken on December 4, 1977, as he sat on his throne after crowning in Bangui, following Napoleon’s example.

Therefore, the image of Raila Odinga being crowned as an elder in Nigeria is altered.

This fact check was published by Business Today with technical support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck newsdesk, through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).