You’ve probably heard of the new viral catchphrase “Mekus Mekus” making the rounds on social media, especially on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, by a vlogger known by his handle, Mr. Nobodydudy. However, at the same time, the same phrase that brought him popularity also often leaves many of the amused netizens confused.
So, what does mekus mekus really mean, and why is it so popular?
Who is Mr. Nobodydudy? The man behind “Mekus Mekus”
The viral expression “mekus mekus” is popularized by the Philippine-based Indian vlogger and content creator Mr. Nobodydudy, whose real name is Navhot Singh, known for doing comedic reaction videos of street food vendors cooking colorful and flavorful cuisines from his home country of India.
As of writing, Mr. Nobodydudy has already attracted a massive 3.4M Facebook followers, 400k Instagram followers, and 23.7k TikTok followers, with other content creators jumping into the craze and bandwagon.
What does mekus mekus mean?
Mr. Nobodydudy would often say “mekus mekus,” which is his amusing or sometimes sarcastic way of pronouncing ‘mix mix’ whenever the street food vendor he was watching would stir their food preparation.
So, to straighten things out, he clarified what mekus mekus is in his “most detailed” vlog on TikTok, which is only six minutes long.
He said, “Mekus mekus, mix mix ha. Kami na Indian we cannot pronounce straight, baka yung iba kaya nila yan, ako hindi.” (Mekus mekus, mix mix, ok. We Indians cannot pronounce straight. Maybe some can, but I can’t).
Also, if you think about it, you’ll realize that “mekus mekus” is really “mix mix” pronounced in an elongated syllable due to his Indian accent.
But, hey, Filipinos are also known for our “filipino accents” abroad that many comedians love to point out and laugh about, so who are we to judge?
His other usual entertaining expression is “tornado na yan,” whenever the cook swirls their food mixture intensely. He also loves referring to his compatriots using Filipino endearments, like tito (uncle), insan (cousin), and pamangkin (niece or nephew).
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The blessing and curse of fame
They say that fame is both a blessing and a curse, which is what is currently happening to Mr. Nobodydudy. While he keeps receiving laughs, love, and admiration from Filipinos for his comedic acts and even asking him why he has yet to appear on TV, that is not true for some of his fellow Indians in the country.
He revealed that he had received death threats from some Indians in the country following his rise to fame from his India-related content that others may find offensive. This made him feel vulnerable and unsafe to go outside.
He said, “Hindi na nga ako makalabas ng bahay para na akong arestado dito sa amin. Wala na yan, that’s life. Mekus mekus lang tayo, tuloy tuloy lang.” (I can’t even get out of the house, I feel like in house arrest. But we can’t do anything, that’s life. Let’s just mekus mekus, and continue doing what we’re doing.)
However, while he is concerned for his safety, he recognizes the police for frequently visiting him and offering help, as well as to Filipinos who continuously wish him well.