How Gabon’s gen Z weaponised the make noise meme to protest decades of deprivation

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Published Sep 6, 2023 at 01:49 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

49022

In recent weeks, the African nation of Gabon has been thrust into the global spotlight following the house arrest of its longtime President, Ali Bongo Ondimba. This incident has shed light on the political turmoil that has plagued the country for the past 54 years, with the Bongo family at the helm. However, amid the serious discussions surrounding Gabon’s future, an unexpected twist has emerged: a viral dance meme is currently uniting Africans across the continent.

What’s happening in Gabon?

For more than five decades, Gabon has been under the tight grip of the Bongo family. Ali took the reins from his father Omar in 2009. Previously the elder had ruled Gabon for 42 years until his death, making him one of the richest men in the world. This familial stronghold on the presidency has been a source of political instability and frustration for many Gabonese citizens. Allegations of corruption, electoral irregularities, and human rights abuses have marred the Bongo dynasty.

Nevertheless, the military held a divergent vision for the nation. And, after it was announced that Bongo Ondimba had won a third election term on 30 August 2023, opposition groups began vehemently declaring the election as fraudulent, a sentiment that resonated with the military. Remarkably, within a mere hour of the election results being unveiled, the military executed a swift takeover. This prompt intervention ultimately led to Gabonese military officer Brice Oligui Nguema inserting himself as the nation’s new leader, as reported by Reuters.

Now, here’s where the story takes an unexpected turn and where the world of viral memes comes into play. On the same day of his arrest, Bongo Ondimba released a video pleading for his supporters and citizens to “make noise.”

Yet, the Gabonese people, alongside others across African nations, took an unforeseen turn after the release of this video, by deciding to transform the clip into a viral meme. You heard that right, a dance meme. What began as a presidential cry for help miraculously transformed into a nonsensical internet trend—probably not exactly what the former Gabonese president was looking for.

What is the ‘make noise’ viral meme?

In the middle of this political turmoil, Africans have turned to an unexpected outlet for expression: dance. A majority of the videos attached to the “make noise” viral sound involve people dancing and singing along to the beat—seemingly in an attempt to poke fun at Bongo Ondimba. It’s become so popular that the #makenoisechallenge now has over 2.5 million views on TikTok.

@real_madara_dusal

Oya Make Noise !!! 🇬🇦😍 . . #gabon #alibongo #makenoisechallenge #humor #comedy #dancevideo #choreography #twins #danchallenge

♬ Make Noise_Ali Bongo_Gabon - reflexsoundz
@de_lionesss

#bongonoise #fypシ゚viral #tellthemto make noise#goviral #fypシ #naijatiktok🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 #garbon #congotiktok🇨🇩 #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp

♬ Make Noise_Ali Bongo_Gabon - reflexsoundz

So, why the meme, you ask? Well, It’s a question worth exploring. You see, when faced with uncertainty, humour and creativity frequently emerge as potent tools for coping. This meme, in particular, served as a vivid manifestation of the unyielding resilience found within the Gabonese people. It echoed a rich tradition of turning adversity into art, a timeless human response to challenging circumstances. Furthermore, it emphasised a fundamental truth: you simply can’t subject a population to abuse and deprivation for more than five decades without eventually facing consequences.

The future of Gabon may remain uncertain, but it’s clear that Gabon and other African nations are finding ways to make their voices heard, whether through protest or dance.

Keep On Reading

By Monica Athnasious

Priti Patel’s cruel new bill aims to send asylum seekers to processing centres in Africa

By Alma Fabiani

Le Pen predicted to beat President Macron in 2022 French presidential election

By Jack Ramage

Robbed at gunpoint and kidnapped: Inside Hardest Geezer’s mission to run the length of Africa

By Charlie Sawyer

Interview with Lazo, the TikTok viral app exposing cheaters and testing relationships

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

White-owned UK restaurant chain faces TikTok backlash after trademarking Vietnamese word pho

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

The Summer I Turned Pretty star Gavin Casalegno accused of repeatedly cheating on his wife

By Charlie Sawyer

Meta labels tampons, breast pumps, and period pants as sexual content amid rising censorship

By Abby Amoakuh

#swiftieracism begins trending on X after Taylor Swift fans hurl racist abuse at Beyoncé

By Charlie Sawyer

Unpacking the Chappell Roan drama, from toxic fandoms to political missteps

By Emma O'Regan-Reidy

The cozy gaming trend is empowering women to dominate space in a male-centred industry

By Abby Amoakuh

Size 8 model reveals she has to wear fat suits to model for plus-sized clothing

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

The Real Housewives of Dubai star faces backlash over healing retreats promising to cure cancer

By Charlie Sawyer

Why are singles in Spain putting upside down pineapples in their shopping carts?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

German company launches first digital condom aiming to block non-consensual recording during sex?

By Abby Amoakuh

From Andrew Garfield to Cillian Murphy, why are Gen Z women obsessed with slutty glasses?

By Charlie Sawyer

From Page 3 to Gen Z icon: Why Katie Price captured our hearts

By Abby Amoakuh

From Grimes to Jenna Ortega, why are we still asking women to answer for the bad behaviour of men in their lives?

By Abby Amoakuh

Move over Tom Cruise, TikTok blind item hints at Sabrina Carpenter becoming Scientology’s new face

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Is the Ask for Angela scheme a fraud? New shocking investigation exposes dangerous failings

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

TikTok star Bella Bradford posts farewell video announcing her death, prescheduled after her passing