Restaurant Workers Reportedly Fired After Dancing to Mejja’s Siaka Challenge

A group of employees in the United States has reportedly lost their jobs after taking part in the popular “Siaka Challenge,” a viral TikTok dance trend inspired by Kenyan musician Mejja.

The incident has sparked debate online about workplace discipline, social media trends, and what employees should or should not do while on duty.

What is the Siaka Challenge?

The Siaka Challenge is a viral dance trend that spread quickly on TikTok. It features energetic dance moves inspired by Mejja’s song, which has been widely shared across East Africa and beyond.

The challenge gained popularity after content creators, including a dancer known as Shawell, posted lively videos performing the routine. The trend helped boost attention around Mejja’s album Mtoto wa Khadija, which features collaborations with several artists and blends Genge, hip hop, and Afro-fusion sounds.

Why were the employees fired?

Reports indicate that eight employees working at a Chick-fil-A outlet located at Tuskegee University in Alabama participated in the viral dance while on duty.

The group allegedly recorded themselves doing the Siaka Challenge during working hours. According to reports, this went against workplace rules that restrict employees from filming or engaging in viral social media trends while on shift without approval.

After the video circulated, the employees were reportedly called in the following day and dismissed from their jobs.

Some sources claim that staff had already been warned about participating in TikTok trends while working, especially if it interferes with service or violates company policy.

Employees defend their actions

Some of the affected workers said they did not expect the situation to lead to dismissal. They argued that the video was meant to be fun and possibly even promote the restaurant in a positive way.

One of the supervisors involved reportedly said they believed the firing was influenced by complaints from outsiders rather than just internal management decisions.

However, the restaurant’s rules appear to have been clear about avoiding unauthorized filming and viral content creation during working hours.

Mixed reactions online

The incident has sparked mixed reactions on social media. Some users supported the company’s decision, saying employees must respect workplace rules regardless of trends.

Others felt the punishment was too harsh, arguing that the video was harmless and part of modern social media culture.

Many also pointed out that viral challenges often blur the line between entertainment and professional conduct, especially in customer-facing jobs.

How the Siaka Challenge went global

The Siaka Challenge continues to spread across different countries, showing how quickly African music can go viral on global platforms like TikTok.

Mejja’s song has been praised for its humor, storytelling, and catchy rhythm, helping it reach audiences far beyond Kenya.

The trend is now another example of how a single social media challenge can turn a local song into an international conversation.

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