Ugandan dance group Hypers Kids Africa has deleted a promotional video supporting Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and pledged to return cryptocurrency tokens worth approximately $20,000 following an electoral complaint filed by the team of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The controversy has drawn the Kampala-based group into Brazil’s heated presidential contest ahead of the October 25, 2026, run-off between Bolsonaro and Lula.
The video, published on October 7, showed children from the group dancing in yellow T-shirts bearing the words “B22 token” while performing to a song encouraging Brazilians to vote for Bolsonaro.
In the accompanying caption, the group announced that it had received 120 million B22 tokens through the promotional partnership. Responding to BBC News Brasil, the group estimated the tokens’ value at approximately $20,000 and said it hoped to use the money to complete the construction of its home in Uganda.
However, the campaign attracted criticism after Lula’s electoral coalition challenged the arrangement, alleging irregular electoral advertising, abuse of economic power and the exploitation of children.
The coalition sought legal action against the website and related promotional content, arguing that offering financial incentives for political promotion could undermine the fairness of the electoral process.
Following the backlash, Hypers Kids Africa removed the video on October 8, apologised and pledged to return the cryptocurrency tokens.
The group explained that its intention had been to raise funds for housing rather than become involved in Brazilian party politics. However, it did not specify when or how the digital assets would be returned.
Brazilian Court Orders B22 Website Suspension
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court subsequently ordered the suspension of the B22 website following concerns about its promotional activities.
Judge Estela Aranha identified indications that the scheme offered economic incentives linked to online electoral advertising, potentially threatening fair competition between candidates.
The interim measures also prohibited the offer or distribution of B22 tokens and required the preservation of relevant digital records.
B22 had offered cryptocurrency tokens to individuals who shared online content supporting Flávio Bolsonaro, a right-wing senator and son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s campaign denied any connection to the project, stating that it had neither hired the promoters nor financed their activities. The campaign also sought legal action over the use of the candidate’s name and image.
Brazil Heads Into Closely Contested Run-Off
The controversy comes as Brazil prepares for a closely contested presidential run-off between Bolsonaro and Lula on October 25.
According to the reported first-round results, Bolsonaro secured approximately 47 per cent of the vote, while Lula received about 45 per cent, leaving neither candidate with the majority required to win outright.
The upcoming vote will determine who leads Brazil for the next presidential term.
For Hypers Kids Africa, the incident has highlighted the potential consequences of participating in political promotions in foreign countries, particularly where financial incentives and electoral regulations intersect.
