Wololo originates from Age of Empires, released in 1997, where the Priest unit chants while attempting to convert an enemy unit to the player's side. Players remembered the chant because conversion took several seconds and could dramatically steal a strong unit. The sound spread through gaming forums, strategy videos and later meme edits, helped by re-releases including Age of Empires II. Online, the elongated version is now shorthand for persuasion, hypnosis and cult-like recruitment, even among viewers who have never played the series.