"So 54 countries walk into a bar..."
The dynamics of African continent are complicated to say the least, but what if it was reimagined as one big bar?
African Twitter users launched a hashtag Monday night that offers a clever, satirical look at the geo-politics at play between the countries that make up the continent.
"I thought it would be a fun way for Africans to laugh at themselves and each other by putting geopolitics in a comedic light," tweeted #IfAfricaWasABar creator Siyanda Mohutsiwa.
Mohutsiwa, a 22-year-old writer from Botswana set the hashtag in motion on Monday night with a simple question, "If Africa was a bar, what would your country be drinking/doing?" and shared some of her own witty observations.
If Africa was a bar, what would your country be drinking/doing?— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) July 27, 2015
If Africa was a bar, Botswana would be drinking chibuku in public and champagne in private. #ifAfricawasabar pic.twitter.com/pa3xELWY1t— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) July 27, 2015
#ifAfricawasabar Ghana would be that guy who gets drunk and starts - for some reason - talking about how much God loves us all— Siyanda-Panda (@SiyandaWrites) July 27, 2015
From there, the conversation took on a life of its own. Less than one day later, #IfAfricaWasABar was tweeted more than 44,000 times, according to Twitter-tracking website Topsy.
Mohutsiwa said she was happy to give Africans the chance to participate in media about themselves and "talk about each other in a lighthearted, not hateful, not angry" way, in a video she posted on Tuesday.
"What I’ve always tried to do with my Twitter account, and with social media in general, is try to travel around Africa with the perceptions of other Africans as much as possible," said Mohutsiwa. She added taht she hoped the hashtag would be education both for those living in Africa and for those further afield.
#IfAfricaWasABar there would be a load of groupies hanging around outside claiming they know what's going on inside better than the barstaff— Phil Moore (@fil) July 27, 2015
#IfAfricaWasABar This is how Madagascar & Seychelles would be pic.twitter.com/9jiv3dQRDL— Ellis B. (@Ellisbht) July 28, 2015
#IfAfricaWasABar Namibia would only be there if South Africa says it's cool to go.— Topher (@Chrisposure) July 27, 2015
#ifAfricawasabar Egypt wld be getting violent after every shot of tequila. @SiyandaWrites— steve ogola (@steveogola) July 27, 2015
#IfAfricaWasABar Lesotho would be that person who nobody really knows but is always in the pictures.— Stina Knowles (@PILLAY_CGLM) July 27, 2015
#IfAfricaWasABar Egypt, Libya, Morrocco & Tunisia would be those girls that complain that they don't like it here, they club up the road— Love Lula (@BanNgidi) July 27, 2015
#IfAfricaWasABar 600 journalists would show up every time someone threw a chair— ashoka (@unkyoka) July 28, 2015
"Hashtags like #IfAfricaWasABar give us an opportunity to lightheartedly take part in our own humor and our own entertainment while also being educational," she added. "You learn a lot of things if you really look at this type of Twitter engagement," Mohutsiwa said.