who invented twerking

Twerking was not invented by a single person; it originated as a collective cultural expression rooted in traditional West African dances, particularly the mapouka dance from Côte d’Ivoire. It evolved through African-American communities, especially within the New Orleans bounce music scene in the 1990s. The term "twerk" appeared in popular culture around this time, with artists like DJ Jubilee using it in the early 1990s. The dance involves rhythmic, isolated hip and buttock movements often done in a squatting stance. While Miley Cyrus popularized twerking globally in the 2010s through viral performances, she did not invent it. The dance has deep historical roots tracing back to African dances with cultural and spiritual significance, evolving through African diasporic traditions in the Americas. The word "twerk" itself dates back to at least the early 19th century, originally referring to twisting or jerking movements. In summary: twerking was invented collectively through cultural evolution from West African traditional dances, refined within African-American communities, and popularized worldwide much later by celebrities like Miley Cyrus.