Makmende is a fictional Kenyansuperhero character which has enjoyed a popular resurgence after an adaptation by Kenya's musical group Just a Band in the music video for their song Ha-He on their second album, 82 (2009). The video became the first viral internet sensation originating from Kenya.[1]
The word Makmende is a sheng (Swahili slang) word which means "a hero".[2] The name supposedly originated from the Kenyan neighborhood playgrounds. Anyone who thought they could do the impossible or a particularly difficult task was always asked whether they thought they were Makmende, since only Makmende could do or attempt to do the impossible. Makmende was a Kenyan childhood hero that had ability to handle all sort of chores, could win all childhood games, and was very energetic and strong.
Resurgenceedit
Makmende's portrait on a fictional 10,000 shillings Kenyan note
The video, directed by Jim Chuchu and Mbithi Masya, became a viral internet sensation and Kenyans launched an internet campaign for the "superhero" on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. The videos references blaxploitation and kung-fu movies in its style and features Makmende fighting with a variety of humorously named characters in a fictional city. The success of this video and the subsequent internet discussion has centered on the ways in which Kenyans were adopting social media. The cover graphic of the video has a black and white monotone portrait picture of Makmende placing a red head band across his forehead with the words MAKMENDE AMERUDI which is Swahili for MAKMENDE IS BACK. The role of Makmende on the video was played by graphics designer Kevin Maina, who had little previous acting experience.[3]
As of April 2010, the Makmende website was one of the most visited by KenyanInternet users, and the meme had a quickly growing fanbase on Facebook and Twitter. The Makmende story has also featured on CNN[4] and was presented by CNN's David McKenzie. Makmende has also featured in articles in popular Kenyan media.[5]
Scholarly discussionedit
The meme is discussed by Heather Ford in an ethnographic analysis of African contributions to Wikipedia, entitled "The Missing Wikipedians".[6]
Referencesedit
^Vinograd, Cassandra (March 24, 2010). "Kenya Launches Country's First Viral Music Video". the wall street journal. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
^. Sheng-Kamusi. 1997. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
^"There is a new hero in town, his name is Makmende!". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
^"Makmende craze sweeps the Internet". Daily Nation. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
^Ford, Heather. "The Missing Wikipedians." In Lovink, Geert, and Nathaniel Tkacz. Critical Point of View: A Wikipedia Reader. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, 2011.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Makmende.
Official website
May 02, 2024
makmende, fictional, kenyan, superhero, character, which, enjoyed, popular, resurgence, after, adaptation, kenya, musical, group, just, band, music, video, their, song, their, second, album, 2009, video, became, first, viral, internet, sensation, originating, . Makmende is a fictional Kenyan superhero character which has enjoyed a popular resurgence after an adaptation by Kenya s musical group Just a Band in the music video for their song Ha He on their second album 82 2009 The video became the first viral internet sensation originating from Kenya 1 MakmendeHa He video concept cover by Just a BandAlso known asMakmende is BackGenreSuper HeroCountry of originKenya Contents 1 History 2 Resurgence 3 Scholarly discussion 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe word Makmende is a sheng Swahili slang word which means a hero 2 The name supposedly originated from the Kenyan neighborhood playgrounds Anyone who thought they could do the impossible or a particularly difficult task was always asked whether they thought they were Makmende since only Makmende could do or attempt to do the impossible Makmende was a Kenyan childhood hero that had ability to handle all sort of chores could win all childhood games and was very energetic and strong Resurgence edit nbsp Makmende s portrait on a fictional 10 000 shillings Kenyan note The video directed by Jim Chuchu and Mbithi Masya became a viral internet sensation and Kenyans launched an internet campaign for the superhero on Facebook Twitter and other social media The videos references blaxploitation and kung fu movies in its style and features Makmende fighting with a variety of humorously named characters in a fictional city The success of this video and the subsequent internet discussion has centered on the ways in which Kenyans were adopting social media The cover graphic of the video has a black and white monotone portrait picture of Makmende placing a red head band across his forehead with the words MAKMENDE AMERUDI which is Swahili for MAKMENDE IS BACK The role of Makmende on the video was played by graphics designer Kevin Maina who had little previous acting experience 3 As of April 2010 the Makmende website was one of the most visited by Kenyan Internet users and the meme had a quickly growing fanbase on Facebook and Twitter The Makmende story has also featured on CNN 4 and was presented by CNN s David McKenzie Makmende has also featured in articles in popular Kenyan media 5 Scholarly discussion editThe meme is discussed by Heather Ford in an ethnographic analysis of African contributions to Wikipedia entitled The Missing Wikipedians 6 References edit Vinograd Cassandra March 24 2010 Kenya Launches Country s First Viral Music Video the wall street journal Retrieved March 24 2010 Sheng Kamusi Sheng Kamusi 1997 Archived from the original on July 22 2011 Retrieved March 25 2010 There is a new hero in town his name is Makmende Daily Nation Retrieved 2020 04 28 CNN com Video CNN Archived from the original on 2008 03 17 Makmende craze sweeps the Internet Daily Nation Retrieved 2020 04 28 Ford Heather The Missing Wikipedians In Lovink Geert and Nathaniel Tkacz Critical Point of View A Wikipedia Reader Amsterdam Institute of Network Cultures 2011 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Makmende Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Makmende amp oldid 1213249253, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
