Recently, the Chinese internet has been abuzz with the term yakexi [亚克西]. According to a post on Baidu’s Baike, yakexi is the Uyghur word for good. The word has been in general use as a brand name for some time now, but it took on new meaning at this year’s Spring Festival Gala, where one of the performances was a song called “The Party’s Policies are yakexi“. Many netizens, finding the song to be excessive in its praises, have taken to mocking it and the word yakexi itself.
The Big Yakexi Art Competition
Han Han, never one to miss an opportunity to be snarky, has responded to the skit by calling for a competition to commemorate the word he says could replace “Grass Mud Horse” as this year’s internet meme of choice. From his blog:The rules of the Big Yakexi Art Competition are thus: aside from the “What is yakexi, what is yakexi, ah, The CPC Central Committee’s policies are yakexi” part, contestants have free reign to alter the other parts [of the song]. Entrants must register and post their names as a reply to this post. There will be a grand prize (5000 RMB), a second prize (3000 RMB), and a jury prize (2000 RMB). All prizes will be payed by me personally, and the winners will be published on this blog and in [my] magazine Solo Chorus. My blog will also link yours, and establish a formal friendship.
