Ever wonder where some viral memes, dance challenges, dress styles, and slang come from? Who started them, and how did they take over our feeds? Here are some original African trends created by men in the creative industry that dominated the internet:

&nbsp;Memes have become one of Africa’s longest-lasting trends online.&nbsp; Everybody loves a good meme. But whose funny facial expressions are used for the memes? Nollywood’s popular duo, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, have become the faces of countless Gen Z memes and stickers with millions of shares.&nbsp; Aki and PawPaw appear in the majority of popular Nollywood memes. What’s wild is that these expressions all come from old movies they starred in long before memes existed. Their hilarious lines are also everywhere, as Snapchat sounds and online audios.

While skitmaking existed in Nigeria before him, <a href="https://www.mystory.com.ng/lasisi-elenu-from-jokes-to-fame/">Lasisi Elenu</a> is widely recognised for popularising and modernising it for social media, making short-form comedy a staple across Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Whether or not you knew him before, you’ve almost certainly encountered the “wide-mouth” Snapchat filter. Lasisi Elenu has turned the filter and his signature high-pitched voice into an entire brand.&nbsp;

Emerging around the same time as Lasisi Elenu, Josh2Funny made waves with his brightly coloured suits and over-the-top comedic sketches. He gained international recognition for stunts like his staged “speed-reading” at America’s Got Talent and became a household name online for popularising the viral <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@hiptv__/video/7326923172102606085">“Don’t Leave Me”</a> trend, where people cracked deliberately terrible jokes and laughed uncontrollably at how unfunny they were. This challenge became a global sensation, inspiring countless variations and sparking creativity across social platforms.

4. The Revolution of Male Fits That Break The Rules&nbsp;

Nigerian influencers like Denola Grey and Broda Shaggi helped popularise bold, colourful streetwear for men. Bright prints, mix-and-match patterns, and oversized fits became a signature Instagram look, inspiring male youth across Africa to embrace unusual and&nbsp; creative styling.

Did you know that the famous dance step, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_fhjdgCefo/">Zanku</a>, stands for "Zlatan Abeg No Kill Us"?

It involves fast legwork, arm swings, and rhythmic steps, often performed in sync with high-energy beats. As the name implies, the Lagos musician, Zlatan, originated it. Other popular moves and dance challenges that started with Afrobeat music include the Kelebu dance challenge from Rema’s song, Kelebu, and the “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” dance.

Kelebu went viral, especially because Rema offered 10,000 dollars to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNBpEVsvCcA">“best easy dancer”</a>. Kelebu is a fast-tempo, catchy song. So, Rema asked that the contestants make the dance steps easy but energetic enough to blend with the beats of the song.&nbsp;

The comedian, content creator and YouTuber named Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie, who goes by the stage name Brain Jotter, started the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu52UaZxEw0">“Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” </a>dance challenge. He did this under his skit by reviving the 1983 Igbo highlife song Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche by Mike Ejeagha which trended on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube

These and many more are exactly why we call the trendsetters influencers. In one way or another, these men have undeniably shaped societal adaptations among young Nigerians and perhaps Africans at large.

Take a look at some of the Nigerian men creating the memes, moves, and moments that make everyday life a little more fun.


read more