South Africa has a rich history of struggle songs, with the likes of Siyaya, iYoh Solomon and Senzeni Na uniting protesters for decades. So when three white grannies tried to create their own, they should have realised the ridicule they’d be subjecting themselves to. Thus, the #ZumaMustGoChallenge was born.
On 7 April, tens of thousands of South Africans took to the streets to protest President Jacob Zuma. But it’s well known that South Africans know how to make light of a tense situation, and when journalist Mamaponya Motsai uploaded the video of three white grannies singing their own creation, she gave Twitter just what it was looking for.
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These old ladies have even made a little dance of how #ZumaMustFall #AntiZumaMarches #BayersNaude #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/gBhIfqqkUO
— Mamaponya Motsai (@Emeliamotsai) April 7, 2017
Young South Africans immediately took to Twitter to mock the very silly song with #ZumaMustGoChallenge.
#ZumaMustGoChallenge pic.twitter.com/tJxAA7P7hJ
— black boys look blue (@AndreiDamane) April 7, 2017
#ZumaMustGoChallenge #ZumaMustGo #AntiZumaMarches #zuma pic.twitter.com/fJ4hkJPjVB
— Nicole Ferger (@Nicole_Ferger) April 7, 2017
Everywhere and anywhere pic.twitter.com/OUdY8vGaPY
— Nomawethu (@NomaP_) April 7, 2017
Some had far too much rhythm.
@Emeliamotsai@VuyiTheGreat The zumaChallange #AntiZumaMarches#savesa#SAUnites#LuthuliHousepic.twitter.com/eTySGC6GRe
— SageOfSixPathz (@T_Do_) April 7, 2017
And some perfected the affected accent.
#ZumaMustGoChallenge @LuloLam @WonaJade pic.twitter.com/quiuoV7fWw
— #TheBuildUp (@Aux_Gawd) April 9, 2017
Other users thought singing wasn’t enough, and created banger remixes.
#ZumaMustGo #Remix #InstaGrannies #AntiZumaMarches #ZumaMustFall #TrapRemix #Lol #Trap #HipHopGrannies #SaveSA #JunkCrunk #Protests pic.twitter.com/03KUPuqDqq
— #TooManyChiefs (@FAL_CONE) April 7, 2017
don’t tell me you don’t love black people. @ThusoMakitla pic.twitter.com/swUZ7qmsqi — Bab’Zulu (@Just_Zulu) April 7, 2017
#zumamustgo #zumamustgochallenge #TitoMboweni pic.twitter.com/IukLMyl7OM
— Innocent Lal (@Innocent_Laal) April 7, 2017
Ladysmith Black Mambazo version #ZumaMustGoChallengepic.twitter.com/wvFZR1qdW9
— Tsepiso Nzayo (@TsepisoNzayo) April 8, 2017
The women who started it all are well aware of their fame, and have even got their own Twitter @zumagrannies. And don’t worry: they haven’t stopped providing us with cringeworthy content just yet.
#zumamustgochallenge #Vuvuzela #Wooooooooo #Gransonthegooo pic.twitter.com/FVb3S1SwwY
— #GransOnTheGooo (@ZumaGrannies) April 10, 2017
#zumamustgochallenge #TheOriginalGrannies #Backformore pic.twitter.com/hWSuobE7JZ
— #GransOnTheGooo (@ZumaGrannies) April 10, 2017
What a country we live in.
