Early on Wednesday, #AfricaEmoji began trending on Twitter in an attempt to make the emoji a permanent feature on the social media platform.
Back in July, it was Absa that tried to save the emoji, which would only be available on Twitter for three months.
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Last week, the financial institution once again asked Africans around the continent to help save the hashtag, which is much more than a simple emoji of our continent, the company believes.
“#AfricaEmoji is the start of a new narrative — the one told by us as Africans. It’s a tiny symbol with massive clout – an emoji that lets us share our version of this continent with the rest of the world,” it explained on its blog.
According to Absa, the emoji would be discontinued on 28 October 2018, so it has asked for a “Virtual March” on Unicode where users Tweet the emoji-regulating company.
“We’re calling on all Africans to join the Virtual March. All you have to do is tweet the #AfricaEmoji with the Fist Emoji @Unicode,” it urged.
It’s now or never. #AfricaEmoji can only live on our keyboards if you join the first ever virtual march on @Unicode, the guys who can keep it alive. Tweet #AfricaEmoji @Unicode to join. If we don’t use it, we all lose it. pic.twitter.com/HjbbdFCJho
— Absa Group (@Absa) October 22, 2018
Many took to the challenge…
Count me in! #AfricaEmoji @unicode pic.twitter.com/cDBAXqwaXn
— oness
(@dr_oness) October 24, 2018
yeah… i’m definitely down with that. #AfricaEmoji
— Alex Tobenki (@Mcalextobenki) October 24, 2018
Proud to be from Africa
. I’m in support of #africaemoji — Mukami Nkoroi (@Mukamink) October 24, 2018
Help keep the #AfricaEmoji Alive#AfricaEmoji @Unicode
— Ruth (@Ruthyamagucci) October 24, 2018
@unicode we must join or lose it all #AfricaEmoji
— Fredrick Leica (@leicaoloo) October 24, 2018
The Unicode Consortium has yet to comment on the “march”.
Feature image: screenshot, Absa
