The dancing lizard GIF is one of the most popular internet memes out there. But why do lizards mindlessly bob their heads when still? Why do lizards, without asking or warning, break into dance ever so often? You guys loved our hilarious take on 40+ popular emojis in Bukusu, good thing it is then that we are in similar mood today. For we tell the story of Namukhokhome the great ancestor of geckos whose genes gifted lizards the joy of bobbing their heads and dancing to a rhythm in their heads.
via GIPHY
Longtime ago there lived a gecko named Namukhokhome. Namukhokhome loved to climb trees and periodically bask in the sun. Namukhokhome knew that when he basked in the sun, the colorful blue-green hue from his mother’s side perfectly blended with its grey-brown color of his father’s people. The sun made him dashingly handsome, and he loved how that made him feel about himself.
The Fall
One day as Namukhokhome perched up high up on his favorite Mukhuyu tree, he accidentally fell. He had fallen many times before, but never from such a height. This was the fall of his life. Meaning, it easily would have been fatal. Thus, as he lay on the ground writhing about, Namukhokhome — as he later retold his story to his cousins Embakila the common lizard and Embulu the monitor lizard — suffered a pain like he’d never felt before. In fact, Namukhokhome thought his whole world had come to an end. He was sure he had broken his spine and limbs. Such was the pain.
Because of the intense pain, Namukhokhome kept still at the site of his fall, half dead and half hoping that somebody would pass by and save his life. But nobody came by for Namukhokhome’s pride at his handsomeness had made him few friends. As the Bukusu say, Namukhokhome yafucha lisa. Therefore, not even his friend, lisa the caterpillar came by as he had long deserted him.
Time passed by and at first Namukhokhome thought he was dead as he slowly begun not to feel the pain. When a ripe amakhuyu fruit from the Mukhuyu tree landed on his belly and he could feel it, but not the pain, he begun to think the reason why he felt no pain no more was because of Wele’s mercies.
No Pain
So he moved his feet first. It moved and there was no pain. He tried out his other limb, and so was the case. More attempts, and his body moved as usual. Namukhokhome then did ten pushups and only felt great. Namukhokhome was so overjoyed. He was so proud of himself. His pride came flooding in and the usual self loving self was soon in full flow. Therefore he gave himself a part on his back for surviving the fatal fall.
This he did by bobbing his head and jerking his limbs when the new song in his head got the climax.
The Song Of Namukhokhome
I almost died,
Nobody saw this,
Nobody came to my aid
Nobody said sorry
But I am strong
I have survived!
Being that Namukhokhome was the first from the lizard family to dance, he didn’t dance too well. But all this didn’t matter. He taught his funny dance and song to his wife, children and extended family. They in turn taught their children the funny dance and song. And so the song and dance passed on from one generation to the next.
To date, whenever lizards feel that the sun has made their colors shine, they sing Namukhokhome’s song to themselves, bob their heads, do pushups and dance when the beat takes over their bodies. The dancing reminds lizards of their strength. Furthermore, lizards use the dancing to send a warning to other animals, telling them to keep off.
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