2022/05/16 by Albert Chibuwe, Allen Munoriyarwa · 1 voice
Psychology · #Humor Studies and Applications
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/asr.2022.20
openalex publication_date 2022/05/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03
Abstract In many African countries, jokes represent one of the many means used by citizens to cope with a crisis. Chibuwe and Munoriyarwa explore how Zimbabweans utilize WhatsApp jokes, which are anchored in the concept of the “everyday,” to cope with pandemic-induced lockdowns. COVID-19 jokes provide citizens momentary relief from fear and function as a defense mechanism against COVID-19 and its effects, enabling citizens to confront and rationalize fear, death, and suffering. Chibuwe and Munoriyarwa argue that jokes are also a means of speaking truth to power by disgruntled citizens attempting to cope with a health crisis, in a context characterized by corruption, state repression, and bad governance.