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🇸🇳 Senegal /Technology

The 'Simb' Goes Digital: Senegal's Mock Lion Hunters Chase Likes, Not Children

From Le Soleil · (3d ago) French Mixed tone

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The traditional "simb" performance in Senegal, featuring mock lion hunters, is adapting to the digital age.
  • Performers are now using social media and mobile money to solicit donations and engage audiences.
  • This shift reflects a broader trend of folklore and cultural practices monetizing online presence.

The "simb," a traditional Senegalese performance featuring actors in lion costumes, is undergoing a fascinating transformation, moving from the dusty streets to the digital realm. This evolution, as highlighted in this piece, showcases how cultural practices are adapting to the pervasive influence of the internet and mobile technology.

In a viral video, a well-made-up lion sits in front of his phone. No more chasing children, he is chasing "likes".

— Salla GueyeDescribing the new digital approach of the 'simb' performers.

Once a spectacle of mock chases and genuine frights, the "simb" now sees its performers, complete with makeup and costumes, leveraging viral videos and live streams. The roar of the "lion" is now accompanied by calls for "likes" and "shares," with direct appeals for monetary contributions via mobile money platforms. A performer might ask viewers to send 500 CFA francs (about $0.85) for a "chat with the lion," a stark contrast to the unpredictable nature of a real wild animal.

Send 500 FCFA to chat with the lion.

— AssistantQuoted from a viral video, showing the direct monetization of the performance.

This monetization of performance is a reflection of the broader "economy of clicks" that shapes online engagement. While it may represent a "meager progress" in terms of reduced physical risk (fewer claws, more data), it signifies a profound shift in how traditional arts sustain themselves. The "simb" is no longer just about the thrill of the chase; it's about capturing online attention and converting it into revenue.

The money has domesticated the beast. Behind the comedy, a metamorphosis. The simb is losing its splendor, swallowed by the economy of the click.

— Salla GueyeAnalyzing the impact of digital monetization on the traditional performance.

From a Senegalese perspective, this adaptation is both a testament to the resilience of cultural expression and a point of reflection. It raises questions about authenticity, the commodification of tradition, and the future of folklore in an increasingly digital world. While the digital "simb" might offer new avenues for performers, the piece subtly laments the potential loss of the raw, untamed spirit that once defined the performance, suggesting that the "folklore itself is still searching for its network."

Folklore itself is still searching for its network.

— Salla GueyeReflecting on the ongoing adaptation of traditional arts to the digital age.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Soleil in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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