Durban - The ANC, known to latch on to popular trends during elections, is at it again, with its leaders “rocking out” like teenagers to hip hop-inspired dance moves.
Its “serious” leaders like Cyril Ramaphosa, Gwede Mantashe and President Jacob Zuma have been doing the dab dance on their campaign trail.
Videos of the ANC leaders doing the dab in front of the crowds have flooded social media.
In the dab, the dancer drops the head while raising an arm and elbow in a gesture that has been described as resembling sneezing.
The dab rose to national prominence in the US last year.
US based XXL Magazine reported in August 2015: “What started as a regional down South is quickly becoming a masterful manoeuvre in clubs and on street corners. It’s called dabbin’.”
ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa told The Mercury with a laugh that the dance was their “signature move” for this election.
But that Jacob Zuma dab was too lit!!! 😹😹😹
— ManB (@MARUBINE) July 14, 2016
We can talk whatever shxt we want, but to be Honest, Pres. Jacob Zuma is the coolest president ALIVE, Dab Msholozi pic.twitter.com/fXWJMx71Nl
— J A B U L A N I (@JabsMkhabela) July 17, 2016
😂😂😂😂 regardless of everything, Jacob Zuma 's dab game is better than most of y'all 🔥🔥🔥
— The Billionaire (@_QueenPree) July 15, 2016
He said the party was known for keeping up with the trends, especially during election campaigns, including having designer leather jackets with the party’s logo and colours, branded Mini Coopers and motorcycles, and picking the most popular dance songs to play at rallies.
Kodwa said the party had always generally been a youthful organisation and popular trends had always been part of its campaign and strategies.
“The dance is quite big among young people and people who are passionate about youth culture, so the party has always been rooted in the youth culture and the new trends,” he said.
“We have adopted this dance as it is quite popular among the youth.”
Asked if the ANC was “dabbing for votes”, Kodwa said the dance was not meant to win more votes but was intended to keep the party relevant and part of popular culture.
Political analyst Somadoda Fikeni said being part of a popular trend helped parties to identify with the youth.
“The contradictions come when people sit outside the stadium and when the music comes on they suddenly flood the stadium.”
However, he said popular movements could possibly translate into votes because the youth would feel that the party wanted to speak directly to them.
The Mercury