What happens when history, pride, and TikTok collide? Enter the Andalus trend—a wild blend of nostalgia and hilarity that has turned the shared heritage of Al-Andalus into a virtual battleground.

Fez – TikTok has a knack for turning niche trends into full-blown cultural phenomena, and the “Andalus” craze is no exception. From an homage to Andalusian history – a shared cultural legacy among Arabs and North Africans – to a digital battlefield, fiery disputes between Moroccans and Algerians, as well as occasionally between Moroccans and Saudis have flared up. 

Fez – Memes, reactions, and playful-or not-so-playful-jabs have set the platform ablaze, and Andalus is the latest trending hashtag dominating Arab TikTok.

How it all began

Videos full of nostalgia with Andalusian music and fantastic visuals of the architecture of the Moors combined with captions romanticizing the Andalusian era sparked this trend. 

Posts that first came out as a way of celebrating shared heritage quickly morphed into some sort of competition regarding the “ownership” of Andalusian culture. Moroccans argued their country was a bridge that linked Al-Andalus to the Arab world, Algerians cited their historic connections, while Saudis jumped into the chat to argue for Arab influence during that time.

Memes and reactions

As the argument heated up, TikTokers started reacting with humor-laden memes. A Moroccan creator underlined a video: “Morocco is the legitimate heir of Andalusian beauty-proof? Just check our houses.” 

Each TikToker started posting videos of their houses with Moroccan architecture and amusing captions. “Watching the Saudis dancing in my house thinking they arrived at Al Andalous,” said many of the comments with many laughing emojis. 

An Algerian responded with a video of himself theatrically serving mint tea and addressing Moroccans: “We taught you how to drink this.” Saudi creators jumped into the fray, humorously claiming the Andalous belongs to them. This rather audacious suggestion was greeted with more laughter and mockery.

Comments on these posts are as hilarious as they are chaotic. One user wrote under a Moroccan video: “I swear Andalusia was just Marrakech with better weather.” Another, on an Algerian post, quipped: “This isn’t a competition; it’s a roast session.”

 A trend or a tussle?

The whole thing has become a cultural battleground, where even dialects are being pulled under the microscope. 

A comment that went viral said: “We can’t understand what Saudis are saying, but they’re passionate!” Meanwhile, Moroccans and Algerians have been arguing over whose couscous would have been served at Al-Andalus banquets, giving birth to a flurry of food-related parodies.

 Bringing people together (sort of)

Despite the bickering, the Andalus trend has also brought to the fore common cultural pride. Many TikTokers are embracing humor and using the trend to explore history in a creative way. 

Videos that meld traditional Andalusian music with modern beats bridge generational and cultural gaps, proof that even the most playful of feuds can have its moments of unity.

Be it for the history-conscious feel, memes, or tea wars, one thing is for sure: Andalus TikTok is the chaotic, hilarious drama we didn’t know we needed.

Read more: Morocco’s Lazaro and Lbenj Hit YouTube’s Top 10 List for 2024