The age of AI-generated memes is upon us, and it's as silly as you'd expect.

After a series of AI-generated nonsensical Italian Brainrot memes featuring a shark wearing Nike shoes and a crocodile that's also a bomber plane went viral on TikTok, Indonesians apparently decided that they weren't going to be left out of the fun.

@tordex0p Bombardino Crocodilo #brainrot #tralalelotralala #tralalerotralala #bombardinocrocodilo ♬ dźwięk oryginalny – BombardiloCrocodilo

And so, Tung Tung Tung Sahur was born, an anthropomorphic stick-man whose sole duty is to spook people into breaking their fast on time this Ramadan. Here's how the meme spread on TikTok.

Where Does 'Tung Tung Tung Sahur' Come From, And What Does It Mean?

The phrase "Tung Tung Tung Sahur" originates from an AI-generated meme that first appeared on TikTok in February 2025. The meme features an anthropomorphic wooden figure wielding a baseball bat, accompanied by an eerie Indonesian text-to-speech voice-over.

"Tung Tung Tung" mimics the sound of a traditional wooden gong or drum used in Indonesia and Malaysia to wake people for Sahur, the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan. The lore behind the meme describes the creature as a "scary anomaly" that emerges at Sahur time, punishing those who ignore their wake-up calls.

@noxaasht hati hati #tungtungtung #sahurr #brainrot #bismillahfyp ♬ original sound – 7AJ🎧

The voice-over on the video is transcribed and translated below:

Tung tung tung tung sahur. Anomali mengerikan yang hanya keluar pada sahur. Konon katanya kalau ada orang yang dipanggil Sahur tiga kali dan tidak nyaut maka makhluk ini datang di rumah kalian. Hi seremnya. Tung tung ini biasanya bersuara layaknya pukulan kentungan seperti ini. Share ke teman kalian yang susah Sahur.

Tung tung tung tung sahur. Scary anomaly that only comes out at Sahur. it is said that if someone is called for Sahur three times and does not answer, then this creature comes to your house. It's very scary. Tung tung usually makes a sound like a gong. Share it with your friends who have trouble eating Sahur.

How Did TikTokers React To The 'Tung Tung Tung Sahur' Meme?

"Tung Tung Tung Sahur," or as he soon came to be known, "Tung Tung," quickly became a viral meme on TikTok as users remixed and reinterpreted the meme in various formats, often depicting the creature in humorous or unsettling scenarios.

On March 10th, 2025, TikToker @redbluzx_tiktoq posted a video of the stickman swinging his baseball bat and running away before exploding. Meanwhile, on March 22nd, TikToker @drw.artz posted a video using a mechanical pencil to draw Tung Tung.

@redbluzx_tiktoq tung tung tung pada waktu saat Azan subuh💀😌#bismilahfyp #brainrot #tungtungtung #tungtungtungsahur #grannydub ♬ original sound – 7AJ🎧

@drw.artz Replying to @glitchdemon39 Tung Tung Tung Sahur Drawing Tutorial 🙏🔥 #drawing #artist #tungtungtungsahur #tungtung #meme #tutorial #blowup ♬ original sound – W Arts

How Did The Tung Tung Tung Sahur Meme Evolve Over Time?

As Ramadan drew to a close in late March 2025, the Tung Tung Tung Sahur meme took on a new form. Indonesian internet users began making memes imagining the wooden creature returning home after fulfilling its duty of waking people for Sahur.

Videos depicted Tung Tung Tung Sahur walking away, boarding imaginary flights or dramatically vanishing, marking the end of its seasonal reign.

This playful farewell became a trend, with TikToker @sebuahvideorandom2 making one such post in late March 2025.

@sebuahvideorandom2 Sedih rek harus berpisah sama tung tung tung sahur 😥😞 SC : @wahyu.payull #tungtungtungsahur #anomali #ramadhan2025 #thanksudahfolow ♬ Bunga Maaf – The Lantis

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For the full history of Tung Tung Tung Sahur, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.