Global Trends Land in Kenya

As Kenyans navigate the start of a new week, their social media feeds are alight with a dynamic mix of hyperlocal humour and globally viral trends. While political commentary and regional rivalries continue to provide a steady stream of content, two international phenomena have notably captured the nation's digital attention: the baffling '6-7' catchphrase and a photoshopping craze sparked by footballer Lionel Messi. This blend highlights the dual nature of modern meme culture, where universal jokes are adopted and localised for regional audiences.

The '6-7' Craze: Gen Alpha's Nonsensical Chant

Adults and millennials in Kenya may be left perplexed by the seemingly random chant of “six-seven!” proliferating on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. The phrase, which has no fixed meaning, has become a global sensation among younger internet users, often referred to as Gen Alpha. Its origin is traced to the song “Doot Doot (6 7)” by rapper Skrilla and was amplified in late 2024 and early 2025 through viral clips involving basketball players. One particularly viral video from March 2025 featured a young boy at a basketball game enthusiastically yelling the phrase at a camera, cementing its status as a meme. Dictionary.com even named '67' its 2025 Word of the Year, describing it as “a burst of energy that spreads and connects people long before anyone agrees on what it actually means.” For Kenyan parents and educators, the trend serves as a prime example of modern youth culture's often absurd and insider-driven nature.

Messi's Surprise Visit Sparks Photoshop Frenzy

A more universally understood trend emerged following football superstar Lionel Messi's surprise visit to FC Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium around November 13, 2025, his first time back since 2021. Photos of the visit quickly went viral, accumulating over 24 million likes on Instagram within days. This sparked a global meme trend where users began editing the image of Messi into their own local and humorous contexts. Given football's immense popularity in Kenya, the meme has found fertile ground, with social media users sharing images placing the Argentine icon in Kenyan settings, from local markets to matatus. The trend's simplicity and the global recognisability of its subject have fuelled its rapid spread across the region.

Local Politics and Holiday Traditions Endure

Alongside these international trends, distinctly Kenyan themes continue to thrive. YouTube compilations and local news sites from early to mid-November 2025 show a persistent focus on political figures, including President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, as central characters in satirical memes. The ongoing friendly rivalry and social comparisons between Kenya and Tanzania also remain a popular source of online humour.

Furthermore, the predictable start of the holiday season was marked online by the annual 'defrosting' of Mariah Carey. On November 1, memes featuring the pop star thawing out began to circulate globally, signalling the imminent onslaught of her hit song “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” This tradition, while originating in the West, has become a recognised fixture in the global internet calendar, marking a shared cultural moment online as the year draws to a close. The evolution of memes continues, with a notable shift towards video formats, such as Point-of-View (POV) skits and AI-generated clips, replacing static images as the dominant medium for humour.