The Koek phenomenon began online

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Here’s proof that South Africa’s online media is catching up to the rest of the world. The proof is in the pudding – or rather… in The Koek (the cake)!

The character of Vernon Koekemoer, a middle-aged man sporting a mullet hairdo and some unusual fashion gear, was created online, became very popular very quickly online and still continues online.

Vernon Koekemoer became a virtual superstar after a photograph of him at a Boksburg party was posted on the Internet. It first went round via email, afterwhich someone started a Facebook group called Make Vernon Koekemoer Famous (it has over 6000 members!), from which people started photoshopping the original image.

The news spread fast through online social groups like Facebook and emails were widely circulated. At the core of the phenomenon was interactivity. People were encouraged to take the same photograph and manipulate the character into different scenes. Thousands were, and still are, blogging their hearts out. It rang true to the South African online audience and The Koek became an overnight virtual hit.

Only after this did the printed media pick up on the story and jumped on the bandwagon – revealing The Koek’s true identity (Cassie Booyse from Brakpan) and interviewing him. Now, Vernon is on t.v. too – we see him in a very funny Nando’s advert with Chuck Norris and in an advert for Vodacom.

He’s South Africa’s answer to Rambo and Chuck Norris. And now it seems everyone wants a slice of The Koek!

See The Koek and Chuck Norris in a gatswaai! And watch The Koek, our East Rand Hero:

 

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