Wololo originates from Age of Empires, the classic real-time strategy game released by Ensemble Studios in 1997. In the game, priests chant wololo while converting enemy villagers, soldiers and buildings to the player's color. The odd, catchy chant became one of gaming's most recognizable audio memes, spreading through YouTube compilations, Twitch streams and remix videos in the 2000s and 2010s. It endures because it perfectly signals a sudden change of allegiance, making it a shorthand for persuasion jokes far beyond strategy gaming.