Thuli Khuli Mbali challenge: When TikTok fun turns toxic for Kenyan friendships
By Valerian Khakayi, March 9, 2026A new TikTok trend dubbed the Thuli Khuli Mbali Challenge is sweeping across Kenyan social media, with users celebrating their closest friendships through short and creative videos.
But while the challenge started as a fun way to showcase one’s inner circle, it has also sparked unexpected reactions from those who feel left out.
The format of the videos is fairly simple. Creators begin with a caption such as ‘Let me introduce my small circle’ before sharing a slideshow of photos featuring the friends they consider closest to them.
The clips play over a catchy song whose lyrics call out different names in a rhythmic chant.
Part of the song’s lyrics include lines such as:
“Thuli Sebali, Khuli Sebali, Mbali Sebali, Molly Sebali,
Nelly Sebali, Kelly Sebali, Lilly Sebali,
Sebali igama lako malibizwa,
Jabu Sebali, Lulu Sebali, Mabu Sebali,
Khumbu Sebali, Khalu Sebali, Milly Sebali.”
As the song plays, the photos of friends appear on screen, effectively “introducing” the creator’s small circle.
Negative reactions
While many users have embraced the trend as a playful way to celebrate friendship, others say it has unintentionally exposed cracks in some relationships.
Some TikTok users were shocked to discover they were not featured in videos posted by people they believed were their close friends. The perceived snub has prompted a wave of reaction videos, with some individuals openly expressing disappointment and frustration.
In several rant clips circulating online, users lament being left out despite feeling they have always been there for those same friends during difficult times.
One frustrated creator said in a video, “Sahi siko kwa Thuli Khuli Mbali challenge, lakini ukiwa na shida mimi ndio unakujia.”
Others have responded with sarcasm, suggesting that the friends who excluded them should now turn to the people they featured in their videos when they need help. “Ukitaka pesa ama ukiwa na shida, ambia kina Thuli Khuli na Mbali wako,” one user remarked.
The disappointment has also spilt into comment sections, where some viewers are not holding back. One common reaction reads: “Na mkipata shida muwatafute na kuwasumbua hao hao mliowapost.”
The comment loosely translates to telling creators that when they run into problems, they should seek help from the same friends they chose to feature in their videos.
As the challenge continues to trend, it has sparked broader conversations online about friendship, loyalty, and expectations in the age of social media. What was meant to be a light-hearted trend is, for some, turning into a reminder that online recognition can sometimes carry deeper meaning than intended.
Origin of the challenge
The sound used in the challenge is believed to originate from a chant-style audio popular in parts of Southern Africa, particularly within Zulu-speaking communities.
The lyrics include the phrase “igama lakho malibizwa”, which in isiZulu roughly translates to “your name must be called”.
The chant rhythmically lists different names such as Thuli, Khuli, Mbali, Molly, Nelly, and Kelly, following a call-and-response style commonly found in traditional songs, school chants, and social gatherings in the region.