Follow CAP on Social Media

Listen to the CAP Podcast

No, “Chinese-Africans” Were Not the First to Inhabit Japan’s Islands

by Eric Olander

This photo of Tibetan nuns has been circulating since 2018 and soon after a fake meme emerged on Facebook that claimed they were the first humans to inhabit some of Japan’s islands.

The team at AFP Fact Check dug into the issue and, not surprisingly, found it to be grossly inaccurate. The photo in question was neither taken in Japan nor does it show anyone of African descent. 

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More

You Might Like

If the Oil Tanker That Ran Aground in Mauritius Was Chinese, the News Coverage Would Likely Be Very Different

Journalist and University of London China-Africa scholar, Hangwei Li, noted how apolitical the coverage of the devastating oil spill that’s occurred off the coast of Mauritius. Li pointed out that almost none ...

AFP Fact Checks Misinformation Circulating About a Recent Fight in Sierra Leone That Went Viral

Regular readers of this newsletter will know that the viral video of a fight between a Chinese employee and safety inspectors at the Tonkolili mine took place in Sierra Leone, but apparently a lot ...

No, Kenya Airways and China Road & Bridge Corp. Aren’t Teaming Up to Hire New Personnel

Kenyan scammers posted a fake job ad that claimed Kenya Airways has partnered with the China Road and Bridge Corporation to hire cleaners, toll attendants, and clerks. More than a dozen positions were advertised all ...

What is The China-Africa Project?

Independent

The CAP is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Africa stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalist and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Africa discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

Subscribe