Faking Nationality Jokes In Some YouTube South African Contemporary Music/Dance Comment Threads

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: August 7, 2018

As a result of reading a number of YouTube discussion threads for videos of contemporary African music and dances, I've come across a few comments that appear to be part of a new (2017?) internet meme. For want of a better title, I call this group of comments "faking nationalities jokes".

All of these comments that I've found to date have been in discussion threads for contemporary South African music and dance videos.

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DESCRIPTION OF FAKE NATIONALITY JOKES
South Africans commenting under their real names assume fake non-African nationality/ethnicity while commenting in standard English on a YouTube discussion thread for contemporary non-religious South African music/dance videos.

After identifying themselves as being from a non-African nation or being a non-African nationality/ethnicity, the commenter sometimes expresses appreciation for that video or express appreciation for contemporary South African dance/music in general.

The commenter sometimes (also) indicates that he or she doesn’t speak language used in that video. However, the commenter proves that statement is false by ending his or her comment with words from a South African language such as Zulu.

Based on the responses that I've seen from commenters who named that language, the traditional South African language that is used at or near the end of these "faking nationality" comments is isiZulu or isiXhosa. However, it's possible that there are other traditional African (or traditional South African) languages used in these comments-since I don't speak or read any of these languages.

As of this date, I’ve only found these types of comments in a few YouTube discussion threads for non-religious contemporary South African music in which the commenter begins in English and ends in isiZulu or isiXhosa and possibly some other traditional African language. For example, I’ve not found any comments that begin in French, or Spanish and then end with a traditional South African language (or, I think, any other traditional African language.)

As a result of that comment, some other commenters in that discussion thread may respond seriously to that comment, but other commenters indicate that they "get" the joke by posting internet lingo such as “lmao” and “lol” and/or other "in the know" responses.

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NATIONS NAMED IN "FAKE NATIONALITY" JOKES
In the "faking nationality" comments that I've found, commenters have identified themselves as being from Australia, of from a specific European nation, or from a specific Asian nation, or from Australia. Other "faking nationality"comments that I've come across, at least one e commenter identified himself or herself as being from Brazil and at least one commenter identified himself or herself as being from a city of state in the United States. I've not come across any "faking nationality" comments where a commenter identified himself or herself as being from another African nation or an African ethnicity. Nor have I come across any "faking nationality" comment in which the commenter identified himself or herself as being from the Caribbean or the Pacific Islands.

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POSSIBLE PURPOSE/S
I believe that the purpose of these jokes is to imitate how non-South Africans comment on South African YouTube discussion threads. These faking nationality jokes may be posted just for fun or may be at least somewhat insulting.

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UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS
It seems to me that these underlying assumptions exist in order for these faking nationality jokes to work:
1. that it is odd for people with South African names to be from the countries that are declared by the commenters.
2. That people with these declared ethnicities aren’t from the nations that are declared/
3. The traditional South African languages that are written at the end of these comments are unknown to people who aren’t from South African; i.e. few people who aren’t South African know those languages.

"Faking nationality" jokes rests on the oddity of a person who isn’t South African (with a traditional South African name) writing in standard English and ending their comment with traditional South African words. However, I believe that there's a rising number of people from South African who have emigrated to nations throughout the world either temporarily or permanently. Also, I believe that there are an increased number of people of South African descent who are born in or live outside of South Africa-in Europe, Asia, Australia and elsewhere. And, I also believe that more people throughout the world are becoming familiar with traditional South African languages, via travel and via the internet. Given these points, it seems to me that it's only a matter of time before these above mentioned underlying assumptions will be found to be invalid.

That said, I wonder if "faking nationality" jokes are really a YouTube [if not an internet] meme, and if so, I wonder if that meme has spread or will spread to YouTube discussion threads other African nations. I hope not.

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EXAMPLES OF "FAKING NATIONALITY JOKES" FROM VARIOUS YOUTUBE NON-RELIGIOUS SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC/DANCE VIDEOS
These are all of the videos to date where I happened upon this sub-set of comments.

The videos from which these examples are retrieved are given in no particular order. These videos are numbered for referencing purposes only.

These selected examples and their selected comment responses are also numbered for referencing purposes only.

I haven't included any translations for the portion of these comments that are given in what I assume is a traditional South African language (given that all of these comments were found on YouTube discussion threads for South African music/dance videos). I'm curious what these statements mean, or if they are just random words in a traditional South African language.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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Example #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1wVpFCHeyM
"DJ Maphorisa - Midnight Starring ft. DJ Tira, Busiswa, Moonchild Sanelly"
1. Siyabonga Ngqondo, 2017
"I'm from Spain I dont Understand IsiZulu & IsiXhosa but hhay shem iyasho leTrack ake ngithi nje iyaphabaza!! #Starring"

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REPLY
2.CRAZY ppl, 2017
"ur from Spain but how did u write that"

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REPLY
3. clifton neumann, 2017
"Spanish guy named Siyabonga😂... U got jokes bruh"

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REPLY
4. Irene Thomas, 2017
"Siyabonga Ngqondo haaaaaibo???? Lol 😂😂😂"

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REPLY
5. Siphesihle Mkangeli, 2017
"we all know this boring joke, texting for London and know Zulu Xhosa and Sotho because I never forget or neglect my roots"

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REPLY
6. Bonakele Mlambo, 2018
"if you are from Spain then why you write in isizulu ??"

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REPLY
7. Emkay Tloubatla, 2018
"Hahaha SAVAGE!!!"

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Example #2:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05WYehMAThA "Watch Lit Bhenga dance moves 2017"
1. Watie nhlangz, 2017
"I don't understand the language in most of your comments guys but all the way from Chicago I just wanna say... you are the best especially ngegqom' nokujiva. umona phantsi... All the love from U.S.A 😂✌"

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REPLY
2. Mega videos, 2017
"Watie nhlangz lol Zulu in Chicago"

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REPLY
3. Just Finger
"😂 😹😹"

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Example #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og_kaTxfE3U&t=13s
"UKZN ; Dance Vosho walk yephara destruction boys"
1. Sphamandla Hlela, 2018
"M from Australia and aycha niyaadansa emzansi. Impressed"

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REPLY
2. Thabo John Temane, 2018
"Sphamandla Hlela hey"

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REPLY
3. Blxck Stiffler, 2018
"you're not from australia but you're just "in" australia😂😂😂"

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REPLY
4. Tandi Kobe, 2018
"Blxck Stiffler 😁 just imagine mna ndisithi m from UK 🇬🇧 yhuuu"

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Example #4:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkybvVEQ4g "Babes Wodumo ft Mampintsha - Wololo (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)"
1. Ayanda Romanis Zungu, 2017
"I'm Irish. But this track yenza ama wololo mos!! 📻🎧🎶"

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REPLY
2. Mbeko Kame, 2017
"Lmao!!!!!"

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3. Nelson 619, 2017
"loli am south africa"

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REPLY
4. D. G., 2017
"Ayanda Zungu Irish?"

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5. Zabu Ramafikeng, 2017
"I am From Spain do not understand isizulu..... BUt le namba i enza amasimba bafowethu"

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6. Sydney Sekgala, 2017
"hmm this song...anyone with translation for this song plz..i'm from Thailand but i think i can dance for this song ka language yaka ge nka e understanda"

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Ntando, 2017
7. "I'm from Poland and don't understand Zulu but Hai neh le namba iyasho strong"

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REPLY
8. Zihnne Riley Demor, 2017
"Crc?😂😆😆😆😂😂😀😂😆😆😆😂😂😀 😂😂😂 😂😆😆😆😂😂😀 sorry maybe u will someday practice makes perfect"

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REPLY
9. the famousdjx, 2017
"Nangomunye namanga nje ephume soweto"

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REPLY
10. Cebzah Mbhele, 2017
"Bakzin Namanje lol I'm also in Poland 🇵🇱 Warsaw..where about in Poland are you"

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REPLY
11. Hlengiwe Mngadi, 2017
"Bakzin Namanje 😂😂😉"

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REPLY
12. Ntando, 2017
"Lol someone did get it"

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REPLY
13. Jabu Mazibuko, 2018
"😂😂😂😂😂awe Poland!"

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13. TJ Rush, 2018
"Wow! I'm from Brazil and I'm loving this, it's a pity that I don't understand some comments as they are in South African Languages but oksalayo niyayishaya ito yenu bantu baseMzansi."

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Example #4 [Added August 3, 2018]
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npw4M2XLZK0
Distruction Boyz - Omunye ft Benny Maverick & Dladla Mshunqisi (Official Music Video)

1. Bring Back Our Gqom, 2017
"I'm frm North Korea I don't understand a word but this tune is a Nuclear Bomb. Massive Respect to DJ Mphyd (Song Producer) his beat is on fire man. Eish Pilot Films has let us down a couple of times, I think it time Tira and his team look elsewhere (Ofentse Mwase Films or RB Films) Otherwise makufiwe macala onkeee!! this festive"

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REPLY
2. Romario Giovanni Slinger, 2017
"This I'm from what-what and I don't understand the language getting old now like seriously 😣😣😧😧😧"

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3. kamir mahabeer, 2017
"Hahhaa
Fact😂"

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REPLY
4. Bring Back Our Gqom, 2017
"#RomarioSlinger Really? I didnt know, I only saw it last week on youtube comments section. Thanks for heads up"

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REPLY
5. kgahliso Napo, 2017
"lol y dd u have to say ur from north korea, u don't even know where that is😂😂"

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REPLY
6. Bring Back Our Gqom, 2018
"#KgahlisoNapo if i don't knw where North Korea is. I wudnt have mentioned the "Nuclear Bomb" in scenario"

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REPLY
7. Luthando Dumisani Zaba, 2018
"Bruh they dont even have YouTube in North Korea"

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REPLY
8. theo jb, 2018
"Wait you frm NK but still you write zulu words ... im confused"

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REPLY
9. Tony, 2018
"prove it. nk has no internet to my best knowing...."

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REPLY
10. linford phele mthobeli, 2017
"I'm from Russia don't understand what they saying kodwa lengoma ne flakka same whatsapp group, iyanyisa"

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REPLY
11. Iskey, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom im pretty sure people in Korea don't say "Eish""

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REPLY
12. DJ HOTFIRE, 2018
"Omg im dead nuclear bomb 😂😂"

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REPLY
13. Abraham Miller, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom I don't know who you are, but I love your sense of humor"

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REPLY
14. jordan dk, 2018
"Who in North korea says eish"

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REPLY
15. Elvis Lungo, 2018
"something tells me you are from South Africa. seriously you kno too much wena.. lol"

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REPLY
16. Bryan BC Carrasquillo, 2018
"wait, you're in NoKo and you're not in jail yet for being on Youtube?"

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REPLY
17. B 1, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom 😂😂😂😂"

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REPLY
18. Mwafrika Mkenya, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom when I saw Eish I knew this either south African or Kenyan"

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REPLY
19. Mwafrika Mkenya, 2018
"Jonathan Holtshausen Kenyans say Eiish too"

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REPLY
20. MelanatedNYC Empress, 2018
"Luthando Dumisani Zaba
He/she could of been one of the people who got out of N.Korea, people move you know"

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REPLY
21. Princess882, 2018
"Bring Back Our Gqom North Koreans don’t say “eish”"

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REPLY
22. lindokuhle andile
"korean who can speak zulu haaaaaaa im lovin it"

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REPLY
23. Michael Makamba, 2018
"the dude is from North Korea and says "Eish" how original"

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Example #5:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lZUI3u6HI "Babes - "Umngan'wami ft Mampintsha & Danger (Official Music Video)"
1. Teekay Mxoexic, 2017
"Am in Germany I dont understand the language but the beat lenza kakhulu Shem, tholukuthi yeyy ! 😇"

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2. nkanyiso sithole, 2017
"I am from Australia and i don't understand this language but ay no iDubane iyalishaya iqgomu"

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Example #6
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFao_oNYjBE Babes Wodumo - Ganda Ganda ft Mampintsha and Madanon (Official Music Video)

Sibusiso Sibiya
5 months ago
I'm from China, I don't understand Zulu but iyasho lenumber bafe2"

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Added on August 6, 2018
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ca1YUhkJY Nelisiwe Sibiya - Mama Ka Bafana (BRICS SUMMIT)
1. Nondumiso Mhlongo, 2018
"I'm from Australia and I don't understand Sotho but yey lengoma ingenza ngizisole ngokubulala uBafana ongekho 😐"

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REPLY
2. Angelicious Ngwenya, 2018
"Nondumiso Mhlongo its Zulu babes"

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REPLY
3.christinah Ditse, 2018
"Humour😂😂"

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REPLY
4. Mosima bopape, 2018
"Nondumiso Mhlongo 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂"

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REPLY
5. Mosima bopape, 2018
"Angelicious Ngwenya am sure lmao 😂😂"

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Example #7
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlEkRSq0-Qg "sister bettina"
1. King Charlie, 2017
"I'm from Ireland I don't understand the lyrics but iyatsho le nto!"

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2.
Mongezi Skosana, 2018
"I'm in Canada and i dont understand a word that is being said in this song mara yenza amasimba"
-snip-
Note: This is my last update featuring examples of this meme unless I find examples in discussion threads for non-South African music or examples that pre-date 2017.

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