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Tanzanians Mock New Nyerere Statue
A statue unveiled on Sunday outside the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has sparked controversy in Tanzania. The monument, intended to honor the country’s revered founding president, Julius Nyerere, has been met with criticism online, with many Tanzanians questioning its resemblance to the historical figure.
Nyerere, affectionately known as “Mwalimu” (teacher), is a towering figure in Tanzanian history. He led the country to independence in 1961 and served as president until 1985. A committed pan-Africanist, he played a crucial role in supporting liberation movements across southern Africa.
However, the newly unveiled statue seems to have fallen short of capturing the essence of Nyerere for many Tanzanians. Online commentary expresses disappointment, with some users arguing that the statue bears little resemblance to the president, “young or old.” One user, Maria Sarungi, stated, “I know the gesture counts most, but this statue’s face has very little or no resemblance to Mwalimu Nyerere.” Others simply declared, “That is not our Nyerere.”
This incident is not an isolated one. Last year, Zambia faced similar criticism after a statue honoring its first president, Kenneth Kaunda, was ultimately removed due to widespread ridicule over its inaccurate portrayal.
Ugandan TikToker Arrested for Trolling King Kabaka
A popular Ugandan TikTok content creator, known online as “Pressure Pressure,” was Saturday arrested and would face charges of defamation, hate speech, and inciting violence against the King of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, and other kingdom officials.
Twenty-seven-year-old Ibrahim Musana was taken into custody on Saturday, February 17th, after authorities accused him of using his social media platforms, including TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, to launch personal attacks against the Kabaka and prominent Buganda figures like Prime Minister Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga.
“We are in the process of building charges against a suspect who was arrested for defaming the Kabaka of Buganda, promoting hate speech, inciting violence, and engaging in other offensive communication directed at the Kabaka and the Buganda Kingdom,” Ugandan police spokesperson Fred Enanga told reporters on Monday.
Enanga revealed that police are currently transcribing over 50 videos deemed “vulgar, abusive, hostile, and defamatory” as evidence against Musana. The spokesperson also expressed the outrage of many Buganda citizens towards the creator’s content, characterizing it as “ugly speech… embarrassing and disrespectful to the Kabaka and the Kingdom.”
The Kingdom of Buganda, located within Uganda’s Central Region and encompassing the capital Kampala, is the largest traditional kingdom in East Africa with approximately 14 million members, representing 16% of the country’s population.
Musana’s arrest has sparked discussions about freedom of expression and the boundaries of online discourse in Uganda.
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