Wave of memes hit Malawi
We all need a laugh. Don’t we? Something, anything!
In today’s world, memes are the in thing. Wikipedia defines it as a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied—often with slight variations—and spread rapidly by Internet users.
Memes come in and out of fashion quickly and have textual hooks or key signifiers that audiences and creators can easily grasp onto.
The series of online memes have hit the biggest names in the world while giving many the much appreciated respite.
In 2015, not even the Pontiff was spared from the Internet user’s wit and sense of humour.
Inspired by a candid photo of Pope Francis’s visit of Bangui, capital city of the Central African Republic, the Twitter community made hilarious rap memes of the Pope, holding a microphone with a gesture that resembles a rapper, head leaning on one side and left hand stretched to the audience.
The meme craze has not escaped Malawians. They have embraced many topical issues by creatively crafting texts as well as photo shopping pictures.
Referring to Be Forward Wanderers striker Jafalie Chande, football lovers went out with memes with one that read: “Komatu Chande za Bus ipitezi anali nazo serious ngati blue book ya bus yo ikhala mudzina lake.”
When the bus, which Wanderers won broke down on its way to Blantyre, people photo shopped the moment in various situations while others skipped the photo shopping, but just described various situations that could best capture its miser.
Currently, memes about maize and the embattled Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda have taken the centre stage.
Standup comedian Dee Satha cannot see anything hilarious about the local memes.
“They do not put me under any form of pressure. Nope, not at all. They lack creativity. Only a few people find them funny.
“Maybe it’s just me because I have a dark sense of humor but most local memes ain’t funny to me,” she said.
As a comedian, Satha claims to have created a meme.
“I have done one about Escom, but nobody knew it was me because I did not put my name on it,” she said.
Memes are more likely to remain in people’s memories longer even if the physical ones outgrow years from now.
So is it, perhaps, time to learn how to create them—make money out of them because they are probably here to stay? n
