A 24-year-old Tanzanian portrait artist, Shadrack Chaula, who displayed his frustration with the President Samia Suluhu Hassan administration by burning her photograph, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of a fine of $2,000.

Chaula, who was arrested for allegedly recording a viral video showing him burning the president’s picture while verbally insulting her, was found guilty of a recently passed law against the spread of “fake news.”

The painter, who pleaded guilty to the charge, admitted committing the crime and failed to defend his action in court.

During the hearing, the police prosecutor said Chaula used “strong words” against the President in the video he posted on his TikTok account on 30 June in Ntokela village, in the south-western city of Mbeya.

The prosecutor urged the court to impose a harsh penalty on him in order to deter others from “disrespecting” the President

Mbeya Police Chief, Benjamin Kuzaga, told journalists that the artist’s offences included burning the president’s portrait and disseminating offensive content online.

“It is not the culture of Mbeya people to insult our national leaders,” Kuzaga said.

While delivering his verdict, Magistrate Shamla Shehagilo found Chaula guilty of distributing videos on TikTok that contained false information in violation of the country’s cyber laws.

The court ruled that his actions constituted cyber-harassment and incitement.

His arrest and prosecution had sparked legal controversy in the East African country, with some lawyers saying that no law was broken in burning the President’s picture, as there was no law that criminalises burning a picture of the president.

“Was the picture taken by a government photographer? Let them come out publicly and explain their impact on society and the nation. Who can show the law that burning a picture is an offence?” a lawyer, Philip Mwakilima said while addressing journalists after the judgement.

Meanwhile, some social media users in the country have started an online drive to raise money to pay Chaula’s fine so he can be freed from jail.

The Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana, in conjunction with the Zeeuws Archief in Netherlands, has opened an exhibition on slavery at the historical Elmina Castle aimed at “inspiring a fair world for all.”

With a major theme of “Resistance and Resilience: Narratives from Northern Ghana and Zeeuws Archief,” the exhibition which will last till October, has two sub-themes entitled “Slavery resistance narratives in Northern Ghana; Every human being is a human being,” and “Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: The unity and freedom’s narratives from the Zeeland archives”.

The exhibition, which is organised with support from the Netherlands Embassy and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), according to the Director of the Institute of African Studies, Prof. Samuel Aniegye Ntewusu, will “combine text, audio-visual and physical objects to vividly tell the story of slavery and the struggle for freedom.”

“This exhibition exemplifies the shared commitment to preserving and honouring historical narratives that shape society’s understanding of the past,” Prof. Ntewusu said in a statement while declaring the epoch event open.

“It also tells the narratives of the people Sankana, Sandema, Salaga, Gwollu, Nalerigu and Pikworo communities and the impact of the slave trade on these communities

“The exhibition, which would run till October, is expected to help patrons reflect on the stories and renew their commitment to honouring the resilience and resistance of those who endured the adversities of the slave trade.

“It is also anticipated to inspire all to strive towards a future of justice, equality and respect for all.”

Prof. Ntewusu also noted that the subject of slavery remains a global discourse making the exhibition of local, national and international relevance.

“While the story of the inhumane treatment suffered by communities in Northern Ghana had been untold until now, research had challenged the widely held narrative about the enslaved as docile and passive victims.”

Also speaking on the exhibition, the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, said it connected two sides of the same coin and looked at the impact on both Ghana and the Netherlands looking at the resistance and resilience of the slavery history which was usually undocumented and forgotten.

He expressed the hope that the exhibition would ensure the current and future generations resisted all forms of slavery.