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
https://www.tiktok.com/@juliehairbossbackup/video/7273787852780096776?q=Make%20Noise&t=1694000412186

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 Fatou Ferraro Mboup

What is the mermaid eating parties conspiracy theory, and why are TikTokers now obsessed with it?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Bonnie Blue breaks world record by sleeping with 1,057 men in just 12 hours. Is this empowerment or exploitation?

By Charlie Sawyer

Can Drake actually sue Kendrick Lamar for his Super Bowl performance diss?

By Abby Amoakuh

Who would you call in case of an emergency? TikTokers contemplate their choice in new viral trend

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

The White House sparks outrage with ASMR video of shackled immigrants being deported

By Abby Amoakuh

Unpacking the many controversies of Disney’s live action Snow White and its lead Rachel Zegler

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

James Toback hit with landmark $1.68 billion jury award after 40 women accused director of sexual abuse

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Belgian court lets convicted rapist go free so he can become a gynaecologist

By Charlie Sawyer

From performing at Mother Teresa’s canonization to 10+ film roles, no one works as hard as Rita Ora’s agent

By Abby Amoakuh

Julia Fox reveals her ex-husband secretly baptised her son and warns women of loser fathers

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

ICE under fire for allegedly deporting people identified by Jordans,  tattoos, and Nike gear

By Charlie Sawyer

Donald trump to accept $400M luxury plane from Qatar royal family

By Payton Turkeltaub

Do Gen Z secretly hate their boyfriends? TikTok’s viral #IHateMyBF says yes

By Abby Amoakuh

Ayo Edebiri calls out Elon Musk for sparking racist abuse by spreading fake news about her

By Abby Amoakuh

Selena Gomez cried on camera about ICE raids and mass deportation but did we need to see it?

By Charlie Sawyer

Jenna Ortega’s 2025 film Death of a Unicorn: plot, cast, and everything we know so far

By Charlie Sawyer

Blake Lively’s allegations against Justin Baldoni: Why perfect victim narratives must end