In the chaotic, ever-changing world of TikTok trends, few sounds have achieved viral status as quickly as the strange and catchy “ahlelele ahlelas.” What started as an obscure snippet of music has now become one of the internet’s favorite tools for turning awkward or dramatic moments into comedic gold — and no one has become more closely tied to it than Dejon from Love Island.
Origins of the Sound
The “ahlelele ahlelas” sound originates from the Afro House track Ma Tnsani by VANCO featuring AYA. The song, inspired by Arabic melodies and rhythms, contains a hypnotic vocal section that TikTok creators isolated, pitched up, and distorted. In this altered state, the words lose any clear meaning, transforming into a bizarre chant that somehow manages to be both intense and ridiculous at the same time.
The sound began gaining traction in mid-July 2025, when TikTok users started pairing it with clips of fish — specifically, fish with bulging eyes or odd movements — to create surreal, absurdist humor. This genre of humor, often referred to as “brainrot” content, thrives on random, nonsensical juxtapositions.
How It Became a Meme for Dejon on Love Island
The sound’s leap from strange fish videos to Love Island memes happened when viewers began focusing on contestant Dejon’s facial expressions. In several moments during the show, Dejon appeared visibly stunned, skeptical, or regretful — especially after realizing his strategies to secure the £50,000 prize might not be working out as planned.
TikTok editors quickly seized on these expressions, overlaying the “ahlelele ahlelas” sound to heighten the awkwardness and drama. The result was an oddly perfect match: the chaotic, meaningless chant seemed to mirror the internal panic and confusion in Dejon’s eyes.
For example, one viral meme shows Dejon sitting in silence after a tense conversation, captioned:
“Dejon realising that he fumbled the bag 💼 Ahlelele Ahlelas Scary – bariszortik”
The humor comes not just from the expression itself, but from the surreal contrast between the reality TV setting and the utterly nonsensical soundtrack.
Why It Works So Well
The success of the “ahlelele ahlelas” + Dejon pairing lies in the way the sound transforms a scene’s tone. Without it, Dejon’s expression might seem mildly awkward or disappointed. With it, the moment feels absurdly overblown, almost as if the universe itself is laughing at his misfortune.
In meme culture, this kind of tonal exaggeration is key. It turns relatable feelings — like realizing you’ve made a mistake — into shared internet humor that’s amplified by surreal elements. And because the sound has no actual meaning, it becomes a blank canvas for any kind of scenario, whether it’s a fish staring into the void or a reality TV star processing a plot twist.
From Niche to Mainstream
As with many TikTok trends, “ahlelele ahlelas” started in a niche corner of the platform and quickly spread to mainstream meme culture. Now, it’s not only a marker of absurdist humor but also a shorthand for situations where someone’s confidence suddenly collapses.
For Dejon, it has unintentionally cemented his place in Love Island meme history. Even after the season ends, his “ahlelele ahlelas” moments will likely live on — a perfect storm of reality TV awkwardness, viral audio, and the internet’s endless creativity.
