In this episode, we explore the Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic, a bizarre outbreak that affected a small village in East Africa. The epidemic lasted for 18 months and primarily affected adolescent girls and young women in schools. The psychological explanation, social context, and historical impact of the epidemic are discussed in detail.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Tanganyika laughter epidemic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanganyika_laughter_epidemic)

Atlas Obscura: The 1962 Laughter Epidemic of Tanganyika Was No Joke (https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/1962-laughter-epidemic-tanganyika)

Rankin, A.M. & Philip, P.J. (1963): An epidemic of laughing in the Bukoba district of Tanganyika. Central African Journal of Medicine - Hempelmann, Christian F. (2009): The laughter of the 1962 Tanganyika 'laughter epidemic'. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research

Wikipedia: Mass psychogenic illness (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_psychogenic_illness)

Chicago Tribune: Examining 1962's 'laughter epidemic' (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/07/29/examining-1962s-laughter-epidemic/)

History.com: 7 Mysterious Mass Illnesses That Defied Explanation (https://www.history.com/articles/mysterious-illnesses-mass-hysteria)

Lost at Sea Shanty by legacyAlli Link: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/legacyalli/sound-phrases/rf-lost-at-sea-shanty/

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/