2017 was a year of many ups and downs. This is the year we saw Donald Trump being inaugurated as President of the United States and becoming one of the most memed figures in 2017. We saw Robert Mugabe step down as President of Zimbabwe and we also saw some interesting interactions at Parliament as the political situation escalated in South Africa. On the entertainment front, local star Trevor Noah became an even bigger name internationally and we saw some new internet sensations take South Africa by storm. Here are our top ten viral videos of the year.
10. Suzelle DIY and Tali Babes finally meet
Internet sensation SuzelleDIY welcomed special guest and Showmax star, Tali Babes to her studio to make a DIY Wedding Cake. Tali Babes burst onto the scene as the new star in the Showmax series called Tali’s Wedding Diary. Both her and SuzelleDIY are the brainchild of Julia Anastasopoulos, who co-created both shows with her husband, Ari Kruger under the production company name, Sketchbook Studios. Watch Tali’s Wedding Diary trailer below:
9. Jacob Zuma introduces Meandos in Parliament
President Jacob Zuma always provides South Africans with the best viral material. This year he did not disappoint when he made up a new word during his Q and A in Parliament. South Africans on social media were baffled when the President went on about “meandos”. Nobody knew what this new word meant except that it sounded a lot like Nando’s. Here is the clip of the President introducing his new word:
https://twitter.com/TerriStander/status/926072951396585472
It didn’t take long for icon chicken franchise Nando’s to formulate their own response:
8. Trevor Noah explains why Jacob Zuma is better than Trump
Today show star and SA comedy sensation Trevor Noah tackled some heavy subjects on his US TV show this year. He was quick to make the comparisons between Trump and Zuma and during his sell-out There’s a Gupta on My Stoep tour earlier this year, his politically-charged set blew audiences away. Check it out:
7. Nandos ad – We can fix our s#*t”
We can always trust in Nando’s to not only make delicious spicy chicken but also serve it with some hilarious political/pop cultural commentary in their ads. This year our favourite was an advert titled ‘We can fix our s#*t”, a comment on the messy political situation in South Africa.
6. Robert Mugabe refuses to resign
The world was shocked by Robert Mugabe’s defiance after he was removed as party leader on 19 November 2017 and ordered to step down as the Zimbabwe’s president. The speech he gave really showed how out of touch he was with his own country and his reality. Watch it below:
5. Melissa McCarthy channels Sean Spicer on SNL
Trump was one of most written about figures of 2017. His presidency was the subject of many debates, many jokes and skits. Actress Melissa McCarthy made an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” this year to take on the role of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Watch the hilarious transformation:
4. Salt Bae captured the hearts of many
Nusret Gökçe, nicknamed Salt Bae, was probably one of the most delightful internet sensations this year. His videos showing his unique cutting and seasoning of meat were watched by millions this year. The Turkish chef of Kurdish origin owns Nusr-Et, a chain of Turkish steak houses. His art of cooking and preparing meat kept us thoroughly entertained this year. Here’s a compilation of his method:
3. Sassy two-year old Taylor becomes famous for her cuteness
She has the attitude, she has the charm and she has the wits. This is why two-year-old Taylor Morrison became one of South Africa’s most beloved children on the internet this year. Her Facebook page, Taylor’s “Terrible/Cute Two’s”, gained over 100 000 followers and the videos keep racking up views. Check out Taylor’s video:
2. Lasizwe Dambuza’s viral videos gave us great laughs
Vlogger Thulasizwe “LaSizwe” Dambuza has become a household name in South Africa, all due to his clever, bite sized videos where he plays different characters. It’s so difficult to choose one but here is a great compilation of some of his videos that made us laugh this year:
1. Trump’s Inauguration was a very memable affair
What would 2017 be without a Trump viral video? There were too many mishaps, bad handshakes, awkward moments to mention but here is a classic viral video from 2017 that Bad Lip reading did after Trump was inaugurated. Enjoy.
