Nelson Mandela has officially joined TikTok, well, sort of. An AI-generated account named Madiba has become the latest internet obsession in South Africa, dropping surreal videos of the former president doing everything from DJing to grocery delivery.
For a generation raised on memes and mashups, it’s equal parts entertaining and unnerving. The videos are slick, convincing and eerily lifelike and that’s exactly why they’re sparking debate.
Mandela the DJ, biker, and beachgoer?
The account imagines uTata in everyday and wildly reimagined roles:
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Spinning decks and vibing to a 3-step track like a seasoned Amapiano DJ
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Sipping Starbucks with Mahatma Gandhi and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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Delivering groceries on a Checkers Sixty60 bike, greeting children with “Keep smiling, my boy, you will score many goals”
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Embracing Mama Winnie in the middle of the ocean, sharing a poetic moment
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Applauding Bafana Bafana on the beach for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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Admiring an iPhone: “A phone that feels like a little piece of the future in my hands”
It’s Mandela as you’ve never imagined him and that’s why TikTok users can’t look away.
@madibanextgen DJ Tata #nelsonmandela #viralvideo #entertainment #1000millionlikes #aisouthafrica #tranding #southafrica ♬ original sound – Ncumisa Dlamini
@madibanextgen A Love That Defied Time. #nelsonmandela #1000millionlikes #foryou #2025 #aisouthafrica #southafrica #creatorsearchinsights ♬ original sound – Madiba
Mzansi reacts: comedy, chaos and conspiracy
The comment section is its own show:
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“Please create the one where Madiba says we should not vote for the ANC. I want to show my entire neighbourhood.”
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“History is going to be messy in the future. Someone will argue he lived until 2025 because there’s ‘footage’.”
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“Can you make him say we must take up arms and fight this government?”
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“They will ban AI in South Africa.”
Between laughter and disbelief, South Africans are using the comment section to unpack politics, memory and mischief, TikTok style.
The Sora situation with deceased celebrities shows how complex AI safety challenges are getting. Families of Malcolm X, Robin Williams, and others are understandably hurt.
Building safety guardrails for edge cases like this is incredibly hard, especially balancing free speech,…
— ModelRed (@ModelRedInc) October 13, 2025
A creative trend with serious consequences
While many users are treating the videos as harmless fun, others are sounding the alarm. Experts warn that AI-generated depictions of revered figures could distort public memory, especially for younger audiences who didn’t grow up with the real Mandela.
There’s also a local context: South Africans have a deeply personal relationship with Madiba’s legacy. He’s not just a historical figure, he’s a national symbol, a family name, a face on the currency, and part of collective identity. Seeing him reimagined as a DJ or TikTok influencer blurs a line that many didn’t know existed.
When fiction feels factual
What makes this trend tricky is how real it looks. As one commenter put it, “History is going to be messy in the future.” AI can now create “footage” convincing enough to pass as proof. Add satire, politics, and misinformation and you have a recipe for confusion.
TikTok’s own policy on AI content is clear: users must label realistic AI videos and avoid misleading the public, especially on matters of importance. But moderation doesn’t move at the same speed as virality.
Humour or harm? The tightrope ahead
Some argue that clearly fictional portrayals, like Mandela riding a Sixty60 scooter are harmless. But others worry that the same tools could be weaponised to twist history, push political narratives or impersonate the dead.
There’s talk of regulation, digital watermarking and better labelling, before the line between memory and meme completely disappears.
What this moment really says about us
South Africans have always used humour to cope, question and critique, from cartoons and stage plays to memes and now AI. These videos aren’t just silly edits; they’re a mirror of where the culture is: tech-savvy, politically frustrated, creative and curious.
Mandela may not be alive to comment, but the country he helped shape is still using his voice, sometimes jokingly, sometimes desperately, and sometimes with discomfort.
Whether it’s art, disrespect, innovation or danger depends on who you ask. But one thing is certain: even in the digital afterlife, Madiba still has the nation talking.
Source: IOL
Featured Image: courier.unesco.org