Only South Africans Understood Trevor Noah's Hilarious Black Panther Oscars Joke
Noah uttered a phrase in Xhosa which he said meant ‘In times like these, we are stronger when we fight together than when we try to fight apart’. What it really meant was 'White people don't know I'm lying'.
Noah uttered a phrase in Xhosa which he said meant ‘In times like these, we are stronger when we fight together than when we try to fight apart’. What it really meant was 'White people don't know I'm lying'.
The reason? He said the line in Xhosa, a native language spoken in South Africa. It happened when Noah appeared on stage to announce the nominations for Best Picture and while introducing Black Panther, joked that he knew Chadwick Boseman, the actor who played T'Challa in the film. "Growing up as a young boy in Wakanda, I would see T’Challa flying over our village, and he would remind me of a great Xhosa phrase — ‘Abelungu abazi ubu ndiyaxoka'".
Trevor Noah at the Oscars pic.twitter.com/85YnLrVpv5
— Floki (@XFuxTheSpot) February 25, 2019
He explained the meaning of the phrase in English. "It means, ‘In times like these, we are stronger when we fight together than when we try to fight apart’". The hall cheered as the words boomed through the audience.
However, what many didn't realise was that the joke was totally on them. As a clip of Noah's speech went viral on social media, those who could speak Xhosha realised that Noah had trolled many in the audience with the 'great Xhosa phrase' that he uttered.
Despite what Noah said, South Africans on the internet pointed out that what Noah had said actually translated to "White people don’t know I’m lying."
The clever joke was instantly picked up my smart netizens on Twitter who tagged is as one of the best moments of the Oscars this year.
I think @Trevornoah just pulled off one of the funniest stunts ever at the #Oscars -> Only #xhosa speaking South Africans will know... well played! Hahahaha!! pic.twitter.com/HYzX6CWVpu
— Daryn Hillhouse (@Daryn_H) February 25, 2019
Trevor did this for us. It was a way of letting us know that noma kungathiwani, I got y’all ✊ https://t.co/NQzCbs9Olr
— Suleiman (@nzeny_thabethe) February 25, 2019
Legend
— TweetGuru (@justkholii__) February 25, 2019
Trevor Noah speaking Xhosa at #Oscars might have put Black History month back on track. #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/9wLjc0RCXX
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) February 25, 2019
He’s awesome. Trolled everyone brilliantly!
— Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) February 25, 2019
I love how the whole world is so inspired by his speech and the whole of South Africa is in stitches yuh ha.ah uTrevor akeva pic.twitter.com/FIzWAg9hCA
— thabi ✨ (@Thabi_Vee) February 25, 2019
Trevor Noah really stood on a Global stage and told a joke only South Africans could immediately chuckle at. I know a GOAT when I see one.
— Wally (@walliesta) February 25, 2019
Black South Africans making their way to the Internet to give whites a a full breakdown of Trevor Noah's black inside joke. pic.twitter.com/Mn0RVmjrR3
— M.D.U (@Mdue_Dlamini) February 25, 2019
trevor noah is the hero we don’t deserve honestly pic.twitter.com/P55C5k44Hr
— əndreə cəprotti ️ (@airismile) February 25, 2019
trevor noah really trolled abelungu on their home turf i stan a legend pic.twitter.com/tOhsAGBtqS
— anathi✨ (@outrojimiin) February 25, 2019