TikTok’s ‘Mapangale’ Dance Sparks Outcry Over Violent Imagery

Kenyans have continued to raise alarm over the viral TikTok dance known as Mapangale, which mimics the cutting motion of a machete (panga) and insinuates violent acts.

The trend, started by entertainer MC Zendiambo of Mbogi Naree Entertainment, has sparked mixed reactions online, with many deeming it inappropriate and insensitive given rising cases of gender-based violence and femicide.

The dance, which involves participants symbolically mimicking a knife motion across the neck, has drawn criticism for normalizing violent imagery.

Zendiambo dismissed the criticism in a heated response, stating that many dances are considered controversial when they first come out.

“Mi mtu asiniambie kitu… kama haikubambi, keep off!” (No one should tell me anything, if it does not interest you, keep off).

Kenyans have however continued to call for the dance to be banned, especially as the country gears up for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, CEO of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya, who is known for his strict stances on moral and cultural content weighed in on the matter calling for a ban and pledging to work with relevant authorities to address the issue.

“This kind of content normalizes violence and is misogynistic.”

Dr. Mutua’s stance is consistent with his past efforts to regulate cultural content in Kenya.

During his time at KFCB, he took a strict approach to censoring films, music, and advertisements, often expanding his mandate beyond rating content to outright bans.

One user @Rioba_is_Gerald echoed Dr. Mutua’s sentiments on the trend noting that the timing of its emergence is wrong.

“That mapangale dance as much as it may look fun is bad symbolism especially during this period where homicide cases are being reported almost daily. Those trending videos and the whole dance should be cancelled.”

Another user @BrianGeorgeKE commented on the dance stating that Kenyans are creative when coming up with new dances but sometimes miss the mark.

“Jokes aside! Mapangale dance is indecent and promotes violence. We have good dance styles and can come up with better ones, not this one!”