Publications
Partners
Like most people, I have not been spared the addiction of scrolling through my social media platforms for hours on end. This year, TikTok had all my attention, between the sometimes aimless videos and the catchy trends, I could not get my hands off the app.
READ: Thabo Bester, Cyan Boujee, Siya, and more - This is what South Africa 'Googled' in 2023
South Africa seems to have made a mark on TikTok this year, with various challenges and sound bites that populated social media platforms around the world. We have our talented musicians, our rich culture and the tourists and travellers alike who made content with the gorgeous profiles of our beautiful country, to thank for that.
While all this is true, you may be wondering what really made TikTok buzz with excitement from our shores.
Here’s what the year on TikTok looked like:
GET JIGGY WITH THE #FYP (For you page)
There's nothing better than a perfectly curated for you page - tailored for your enjoyment. Although many of us think that our pages are a collection of our unique style sense, music, food and sense of humour, every once in a while there comes a TikTok post that everyone can agree is absolute perfection.
Here’s what caught everyone’s attention on the FYP:
@lastsightings – The rhino that charged some safari visitors.
@chadjones957 – Our very own dancing sensation dedicates a dance for Mother's Day.
@dezz_lee – Keeping us grooving with his dance and sin.
@hallebberry – The male cook creator impersonator.
@chadjones957 Its Mums Birthday ???? Happy Birthday @Gayle Jones ! Love you ???? dc: @13NorMabena #uJonesFam #fyp #fy #tiktoksa #family #familytok #mom #dance #amapiano #trend #viral #birthday ? Tjeya - Sims Noreng
@latestsightings Rhino charges car down the road ??????
? original sound - Latest Sightings
KEEP ME DANCING ALL YEAR LONG
This year, local acts were on top of both the local and global music trends. Many of them even used the platform to give their fans snippets of what would become the biggest sound bites of the year, capturing the true essence of the South African spirit, a dancing and singing nation.
The local songs that took the world by storm this year on TikTok:
Tyler ICU & Tumelo_za - Mnike (featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee).
Inkabi Zezwe, Sjava & Big Zulu - Umbayimbayi.
Uncle Waffles & Tony Duardo & Justin99 - Yahyuppiyah (featuring Pcee, EeQue & Chley).
Pcee, S'gija Disciples and Zan'Ten - Kilimanjaro (featuring Justin99, Mema_Percent & Mr JazziQ).
@chadjones957 Replying to @k.b kab’s200 All of these tutorials are on my Youtube ??Link is in Bio??? go Subscribe to learn ?? #uJonesFam #dance #amapiano #fyp #fy #tutorial #mnike #trend #viral #tiktoksa #TiktokThatsHau ? Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee) - Tyler ICU & Tumelo_za
WHAT AN EFFECT YOU HAVE ON ME
TikTok has become famous for its sometimes strange and often outlandish selection of filters. Using community effects, filters and sound bites, content creators have gone viral and created an entire community with effects alone. With more than 25 billion videos made using TikTok effects to date, here are the ones South Africans loved the most:
@boitsheposmom - Boitshe gets old with the age filter.
@costatitch - Rest in peace Costa Titch- Body Zoom filter.
@mrsbigbite - Springbok supporter's filter.
@gmutombo - AI style filter.
@winpride_ - Happiness Thabile makes a 3+ minute video.
@jordiscianakapelos RIP ????tobanga nzambe#
? son original - Jordisciana Kapelo's
@frenchbae_ #NewYearNewMe To those saying their AI portrait filter doesn’t look like them, here’s what you should be doing ??… #frenchbae_ #ghanatiktok???? #aieffect #aiportrait ? under the influence - h
@_the_boomtime_show_ DUET THIS AND USE THIS AMAZING FILTER TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE SPRINGBOKS #boomtimemedia #fyp??viral #rugbyworldcup2023 #springbok #boomtimecrew #fyp #godfirst ? Impi - Johnny Clegg & Juluka
BREAKTHROUGH ACTS
We’ve all seen - and some of us have even experienced the power of social media. Artists such as Uncle Waffles have built empires off a simple post. This year gave rise to new creators on TikTok as well, with their viral hits becoming livelihoods for some.
Here are the breakout stars who stole our hearts this year:
@popi_sibiya – travelling with Popi from South Africa to Ghana.
@barbiejackson_- Putting cancer awareness at the forefront.
@mbalinhlapho7 – Our favourite housekeeper.
@namweziiii_ - Namzwezi shows us the right way to pull a plane.
Finally, while many artists did their thing on TikTok, there was an oversupply of hits that kept us dancing. In honour of their efforts, these were the most widely played and used songs on the app in this part of the continent:
READ: In Pictures | The Soirée goes to Durban for the first time
Tyler ICU & Tumelo_za - Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee).
Inkabi Zezwe, Sjava & Big Zulu - Umbayimbayi.
Uncle Waffles, Tony Duardo & Justin 99 - Yahyuppiyah(feat.Pcee, EeQue & Chley).
Guchi & Loud Behaviour - Notice Me.
Pcee, S'gija Disciples & Zan'Ten - Kilimanjaro ( Feat. Justin 99, Mema_Percent & Mr JazziQ).
