Idibala Challenge

(Twitter screenshot)

Idibala Challenge: SA’s latest dance craze comes with a strict health warning [video]

Everyone loves a bit of “dancing and driving”, but if that dance happens to be the Idibala Challenge, you are putting lives in danger.

Idibala Challenge

(Twitter screenshot)

King Monada is responsible for a few hot jams, but could he soon be responsible for a spate of accidents on our roads? His latest song – Malwedhe – has sparked the “Idibala Challenge” dance craze that has left traffic officials furious.

The hip-hop musician’s latest release has got people hitting the floor in a very literal sense and it’s all to do with the melodramatic lyrics and an over-the-top reaction to heartache.

King Monada – Malwedhe lyrics

Monada’s main chorus – with lines like “when you don’t come home, I faint” and “when you switch off your phone, I faint” has got fans simulating his actions. The dance itself consists of fainting on the spot, in time with the lyrics, before getting back up to faint once again.

What is the Idibala challenge and why is it dangerous?

So why have the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) got involved? Well it’s because we can’t be trusted to behave ourselves for a minute in this country (wouldn’t have it any other way, though).

Many people are doing the Idibala Challenge while they drive. Yes: Motorists are actually pretending to faint multiple times while behind the wheel.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out why Simon Zwane, a spokesperson for the department, is so miffed with these drivers. He has labelled it a “dangerous” practice in a statement released this week, putting it on par with text-driving:

“It is in the same category as texting and driving. Many fatal crashes are caused by this. It is worse for these two (paramedics) because they are not wearing safety belts.”

“Crashes happen within a split of a second and drivers should keep full concentration on the road. Motorists should desist from this practice. It is dangerous and places the lives of road users at risk.”

Watch – How to do the Idibala Challenge:

Throwing yourself back in a fainting motion isn’t just dangerous in a car, though. There are videos doing the rounds of revellers falling over each other and even smashing glasses.

If you’re going to Idibala, consider your surroundings. Make sure you are actually able to get back up from the floor, as there’s nothing worse than rolling around like a turtle while everyone else is having fun.

Know your space, and make sure you’re away from any tables, obstacles or sharp objects. And finally, make sure you have fun with it. It’s all a laugh and a joke, really. Just use some common sense.

Watch Idibala Challenge fails – Bad drivers edition: