Lechesa Tsenoli has become the face of a viral meme on X (formerly Twitter), with users continuously remixing his image from an old event.
Origin
The image at the heart of the meme comes from a 2018 SA TB Caucus event, where Tsenoli was photographed speaking.
Popularity
The meme recently saw a resurgence in popularity thanks to AI tools like Grok. Users gave the meme new life, generating versions featuring Tsenoli with afros, chains, wigs, and sunglasses.
Examples
Here are more of the edits seen of the original image:
Reactions
The meme has struck a chord, with some posts receiving thousands of likes and hundreds of replies coining this “the number one meme in South Africa”.
The viral Lechesa Tsenoli meme is a perfect example of how South Africans use creativity and humour, heighten through digital tools like AI, to navigate social realities. It’s not just a laugh; it’s a form of cultural commentary and community engagement.
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