What is a meme? Britannica defines meme as a unit of cultural information spread by imitation. Generally, memes refer to cultural symbols or ideas, often humorous, that spread quickly online through images, videos, text, or combinations of media.
Memes can take a variety of forms like relatable jokes, observations, or social commentary that resonate with a broad audience.
They can be about popular cultural activities and current events that resonate well with people on social media.
By taking rounds on the internet, memes become part of social media trends, creating humor, conveying messages and showing the lives of people across the world.
Political Memes
1.Kufa Dereva, kufa makanga – This phrase gained popularity during the impeachment of former DP Rigathi Gachagua.
Kenyans and even the media adopted it during the proceedings while calling for the removal of both President William Ruto and Gachagua.
Ruto was ‘dereva’ while Gachagua was the ‘makanga’.
It was even extended to “Kufa dereva, kufa makanga, kufa mechanic, kufa wapishi.”
The mechanic in this case was Raila Odinga while wapishi was Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.
2.I’m very ready for Tuesday. This meme bounced back to the limelight during the Gen Z protests that we held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It also resurfaced during the tabling of the impeachment motion against former DP Rigathi Gachagua.
3. Bora Usinguze Mrima (A s long as you touch the mountain)-This phrase was used by Gachagua while warning politicians against interfering with the affairs of the Mt. Kenya region.
It was changed by Kenyans to refer to different things through pictures and videos.
4.The People May –The phrase came during that submission to the National Dialogue Committee.
The Homabay man was describing article one of the Constitution which states that “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and shall be exercised only in accordance with this Constitution. The people may exercise their sovereign power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives.
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Others on Social Media
5.Hiyo ni uongo bana (That is a lie)-Kenyans have used this meme to oppose lies from politicians and even ordinary citizens.
It commences with an individual making a statement followed by several voices of “hiyo ni uongo” bana.
6.Watu si wajinga (People are not fools)- This phrase was first said by Calvin Okoth alias Gaucho. Kenyans on social media picked it up and it became one of the memes that trended this year.
7.Maandishi haya si mageni jijini, labda kwa mgeni jijini. Ila kwa wenyeji wa jiji, ni maandishi tulioyazoea.
This loosely translates to “These writings are not unfamiliar in the city, perhaps only to a visitor. But for the city’s residents, they are writings we are accustomed to.”
The phrase was coined by award-winning journalist Pheona Kenga, an award-winning journalist.
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She has worked at Citizen TV, TV47 and Look Up TV. Her phrase took the social media with a storm with Kenyans using it to create funny memes.
8.Mafi Mafi Mushkila -This is a meme originated by Stevo Simple Boy. He proceeded to produce a song about it.
It is an arabic word which means “No Problem”.
Similarly, sis latest slogan, “Kumbavu Zangu, Umbwa Mimi” rocked the internet in 2024.
9.Boss kwani ile mafuta tuliweka ilikuwa ya ndege, ebu ingia Whatsup kidogo (Boss, was the oil we put in for the plane? Please check WhatsApp for a moment)-This meme has been used to showcase funny scenes of vehicle accidents.
It might be categorized as a dark humor suggesting that the vehicles might have flown to those positions.
Last Three Memes
9.Why Are You Gay– This meme originated from a Ugandan television interview on December 18, 2012.
Simon Kaggwa Njala then host at the Morning Breeze show posed this question to Ugandan LGBT rights and human rights activist Pepe Julian Onziema.
It resurfaces anytime the debate on LGBTQ arises. It has also been directed at others who are ‘too close’ to their peers.
10.Mungu bariki wengine sasa (God, bless others now)- This is a line by DJ Shiti has been used by Kenyans on social media as a caption to very videos and photos.
It was also picked by popular bloggers especially Gabriel Oguda to send very funny messages.
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11.Mr. Warthog and the Kasongo Song– The viral soundtrack of a man singing Kasongo, a song by Orchestra Super Mazembe with funny videos of warthog took the media with a storm this year.
In the videos, the warthog uses its super speed to escape from dangerous animals in the juggle.
The warthog takes risky actions like daring and lingering near predators or challenging them.
This earned it the following names: master of reverse parking, new King of the Jungle, Mr. V16 Cylinder Supercharged Turbo Engine and supercharged turbo with a 5G antenna.
The song has also been a trend on its own portraying funny videos on social media.
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