Award-winning Nigerian investigative journalist David Hundeyin is set to release a new documentary offering an in-depth analysis of how international media outlets reported on the election violence that occurred in Tanzania in October 2025.
The documentary, titled “What Happened on October 29?”, presents what Hundeyin describes as the real narrative behind the events – a perspective he believes was largely overlooked by international media organisations.
Hundeyin, an independent journalist currently based in Ghana, spent several months investigating the events that triggered the deadly unrest surrounding Tanzania’s General Election of October 29, 2025.
The violence erupted following an election in which the ruling CCM party, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was declared the winner.
As an independent investigator, Hundeyin conducted interviews with various individuals both inside and outside Tanzania, reviewed reports published by local and international media outlets, and closely examined the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Events During and After the October 2025 General Election, chaired by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman.
According to Hundeyin, his investigation revealed that key facts surrounding the events had been overlooked, and the documentary seeks to present a fuller account of what transpired.
The documentary presents evidence suggesting that the violence was coordinated and pre-planned, involving both local actors and external influencers – issues which he says were never fully explored in international media coverage.
“The story that was told to the world was a simple one, but the truth is far more complex,” said Hundeyin. “There were other actors involved and other agendas at play. My investigation shows that the violence was a coordinated event driven by specific political objectives. It is important for international media to capture this broader context.”
David Hundeyin is a prominent investigative journalist and the founder of The Spearhead and West Africa Weekly. His work has appeared on major international media platforms, including CNN, Al Jazeera, and The Washington Post. He is widely recognised for his data-driven investigative reporting style, which has earned him multiple accolades, including the People Journalism Prize for Africa.
The release of “What Happened on October 29?” marks a significant moment for African journalists and content creators working to ensure that complex political events on the continent are reported with greater accuracy, depth, and contextual understanding.
“For too long, we have allowed our stories to be told by people who may not fully understand our local realities,” Hundeyin stated. “We have consumed narratives about ourselves framed through external perspectives, and this has distorted our understanding of reality. This documentary is an effort to present an African perspective on an African story. It offers a comprehensive picture of what truly happened in Tanzania.”
The documentary “What Happened on October 29?” will officially premiere on May 26, 2026, in Accra at the WAGMC Auditorium, University of Ghana, Legon.
It will also premiere in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Friday, May 29, and in Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday, May 31.
It will finally be released on May 31st and will be available afterwards on The Spearhead Official YouTube Channel as well as other platforms to be announced later.
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