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Claim: Tracnews on Facebook shared a video of the Oba of Benin dancing after the announcement of the Edo election result.
Verdict: False! The video in circulation is an old video from early this year. Vanguard Newspaper reported the video in May 2024 when artefacts were returned from Germanythe return of an artefact from Germany in May 2024.
Full Text
The results of the 2024 Governorship elections have continued to spark controversies and debates among the state’s residents. While some expressed satisfaction about the elections, others have shown displeasure with the outcome of the elections.
Tracnews, a Facebook page, shared a video featuring the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, joyfully dancing and singing alongside members of the royal court within the palace. In the video, the Oba is seen celebrating in high spirits, surrounded by a lively group of people who joined in the cheerful display of traditional songs and dances.
The 30-second video was posted on Sep. 24, 2024, with the caption “Oba of Benin rejoicing APC victory over Obaseki.” The video can also be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
DUBAWA decided to fact-check because of the video’s virality, the personalities involved, and the debates surrounding the election.
Verification
Using the InVid verification tool, analysis of the video fragments reveals that it resurfaced earlier this year. DUBAWA traced the exact footage to a TikTok post with the caption, “Elated Oba of Benin dances as Germany returns stolen artefacts.” This video was originally posted on May 19, 2024.
A keyword search using this caption further led to a news article published by Vanguard Newspaper on the same date as the TikTok video. The article highlighted a significant cultural event in which the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, engaged in a traditional dance to honour the return of two long-lost artefacts from Germany.
These artefacts were repatriated through the National Commission for Museum and Monument (NCMM). It included valuable wooden and bronze stools used by Oba Esigie and Oba Eresonye, monarchs who reigned between the 15th and 17th centuries.
The video was not connected to the Edo state elections in any way.
Conclusion
The video of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, dancing joyfully within the palace is from May 2024 concerning the return of artefacts from Germany, marking a moment of cultural celebration, not the Edo State elections.
