If you have been scrolling through social media these days, chances you have seen the viral dancing coffin meme. In fact, the whole internet world is talking about this video, that it almost became the ”official” meme of Coronavirus. This video shows few black men carrying a coffin, while dancing to the song Astronomia. Here is a break-down of the story behind this dancing coffin meme, that made the whole world laugh.
The Origin Of The Video
You may ask ”who the hell dances in a funeral?” Well, every country has their own norms, and cultural differences. In Ghana, it is a common tradition to dance with the coffin at the funeral. In fact, they consider it the perfect way to pay their respects, as it spreads ‘funeral joy’. Moreover, the men carrying the coffin are referred to as Pallbearers, since they lift the mood at funerals across the African country.
How Did It Become A Coronavirus Meme?
There are several videos of Pallbearers lifting and dancing with the coffin. However, the most popular one (hence, the one that inspired the meme) was uploaded on Youtube in 2017, and quickly gained more than 2 million views. Consequently, amid the outbreak of coronavirus and the high death-toll around the world, people became intrigued and increasingly interested in funerals as their search keyword.
Therefore, when the internet and more specifically ”the meme world” laid eyes on this video, there was no doubt that the dancing Coffin meme was going to go viral.
And This Is How People Are Using It
As a way to kill time, ease boredom, and also deal with a bit of humor with the current situation, Coronavirus related memes and humor, became a coping mechanism for many people. Actually, people reacted rather positively, and expressed deep emotions through sharing their funny reactions to the dancing coffin meme. We went through social media platforms, and made this selection of how people, from all over the world, used this meme. (PS: The meme even has its own IG page)
Thread African funeral dance meme pic.twitter.com/HRzJiL3sFH
— Alessandro (@FinallyMcFly) April 2, 2020
In case I die of coronavirus, I want my friends to take me out like the funeral dance meme guys.? pic.twitter.com/RukUursOLG
— Unfunny Bandar (@unfunnilyfunny) March 30, 2020
Photos: Youtube, Instagram.