Xolile Vesile cooks up laughs on TikTok

If you scroll through TikTok, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Xolile Vesile on your feed.

Known for his food review videos, he delivers humour in every clip, turning ordinary days into moments of laughter.

One of his most recognisable phrases is “Ubudyubhu”. His content often focuses on dishes where the ingredients seem completely mismatched, producing meals that some might call “gross”.

Most of his reviews are in isiXhosa, and many have gone viral, reaching thousands or millions of views.

Vesile (36) hails from Mdantsane but now resides in Cape Town. He is married to Dikeledi, and the couple has two children. A healthcare worker by profession, Vesile notes, “I’ve always been talkative and had a sense of humour.”

His entry into content creation came fairly recently. “I started on TikTok in late 2021, reacting to news articles,” he explains.

“I stopped and decided to focus on food reactions in my home language, Xhosa. I used the phrase ‘Ubudyubhu’, which mimics the sound food makes when it boils. I concentrated on food that shocked me – Asian street food, canned American food and European dishes.

“I also did some cooking videos and added comedic voice-overs. My content is about life, laughter and daily challenges, but with my own personality mixed in.”

When asked why he presents his reviews humorously, Vesile says it stems from both experience and love for food.

“I’m a fairly good cook. I know my way around the kitchen, and I’m a foodie who understands certain cuisines. When I encounter food that surprises me, whether it’s good or bad, I feel compelled to react.

“My love for food comes from watching shows like ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ and ‘Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern’. I was influenced by Uncle Roger and Gordon Ramsey, but I wanted to do it my South African way – with assertiveness and humour.”

His motivation is simple, he says.

“I want people to relate to my point of view and to find some relief through laughter. If my content helps people forget their problems for a moment, then I’ve achieved my goal. It also motivates me to explore more cuisines because of our diverse cultures.”

Looking ahead, Vesile has clear ambitions, saying: “I see myself as a more developed creator with better quality content. I’m interested in YouTube and producing higher-quality videos.

“I want to maintain my sense of humour in any venture I undertake, whether it’s cooking videos or interviews about the food industry. My main aim is to connect with viewers and make them happy.”

His connection with audiences is evident.

“My viewers take my phrases and use them in real life. Some even tell me they hear my voice reacting to their food while cooking. Overall, my content fits into their everyday lives,” he says.

Vesile draws inspiration from experimenting with recipes and flavours.

“Trying out new dishes in my own way teaches me to appreciate the process of making good food. It’s not always perfect, but we try to redeem ourselves along the way.”

Despite the lighthearted nature of his videos, Vesile’s work is thoughtful.

“Food has a way of bringing people together, and humour makes it more accessible. I want to show people that even if a dish looks strange or tastes odd, there’s value in the experience. The process, the attempt, the laughter – those are the things that matter.

“I just want people to laugh, to try new things and to enjoy the moment,” he adds. “If I can do that, then I know I’m doing something right.” – IOL Entertainment

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