From left to right: Azba, Ubaid and Najma Abrahams. Ubaid, who graduated with an honours degree in journalism took videos of the cooking sisters and turned them into viral sensation
Image: Stefan Els
At Stellenbosch University’s graduation ceremony, one family stood out in their celebrations—a mixture of joy and pride radiated from the beaming faces gathered to witness a remarkable achievement. Ubaid Abrahams, who received his honours degree in journalism, had a supportive entourage in the form of his mother Najma and aunt Azba, proudly cheering him on. This triumphant day marked a historic moment, as Ubaid became the first member of the Abrahams family to graduate from university.
known affectionately as 'Tietie' and 'Nanna', the cooking sisters are not just Ubaid’s relatives; they are also social media sensations, famed for their engaging TikTok videos showcasing delicious Cape Malay recipes. Ubaid, who resides in Strand, has been building a promising career in journalism while working closely with his mom and aunt as they embarked on this unexpected culinary adventure.
The genesis of this social media phenomenon occurred during Ubaid’s final year of a BA degree, after he successfully persuaded Najma and Azba to share their culinary talents with the world. “I had been telling them for years to do something on social media,” Ubaid explained. “They have amazing personalities, and they can cook. But they never took it seriously.”
On a seemingly ordinary Friday, as the sisters prepared roti and curry for a small home-based food business, Ubaid took the initiative to record a cooking session. Little did they know that their first video would garner hundreds of thousands of views within hours, catapulting their TikTok channel, @tietie_and_nanna786, into virality. With over 300,000 followers and millions of views, the sisters captivated audiences with their authenticity and mouth-watering dishes, subsequently leading them to a cooking show on VIA TV and the release of their popular cookbook, Tietie en Nanna se Huiskos— paving the way for multiple nominations for Netwerk24’s Influencer Awards.
“The most rewarding aspect is the community we’ve built around them,” Ubaid shared. “People don’t just watch their videos—they feel connected to them, as if they’re their own mothers and aunts. The comments and messages we receive are overwhelming.”
In this digital age, Ubaid has seamlessly combined his passion for storytelling with his family’s culinary expertise, creating a unique space for them in the world of social media.