The video rants of the TikTok sensation from Ruimsig about her neighbours in her complex keeping her on her toes during the lockdown became a hit without her realising it at first. She said she’s only posting the videos because of how funny the situations and her neighbours are.
Tums, or Tumi Mmope, a 28-year-old working from home mother, said she saw a truly unique side to her neighbours once the lockdown was in full swing.
Being a millennial, she decided to portray the situations that were playing out in her complex through a series of hilarious videos which she then posted on the popular make-your-own-video app, TikTok. Before Tumi could even post her next video, her first ones exploded, making her an online sensation.
Watch Tumi talk about the ‘big braai incident’ here:
The News recently spoke to the bubbly poster about her new-found fame and what inspired her to become a TikTokker. “I work from home every day, and the drama we as residents go through on our complex’s WhatsApp group is sometimes nothing short of hilarious. Our complex has all types of races and situations, and we absolutely love each other and embrace each other fully,” Tumi said.
Her first video, which started it all, was about her failed relationship and a fight breaking out in the complex shortly thereafter; and as they say, one thing led to the other. She then started making videos of the situations playing out.
“I don’t make up these things. When they happen, I make a video,” she laughed.
She is particularly fond of one of her neighbours whom she calls her Oom and whom her followers know as Mr Marais.
“I love my neighbour so much. He is such an important part of my life. I am actually very close to most of my neighbours; we always think of each other. There is so much of ubuntu in our complex, it’s a great feeling.”
Watch Tumi’s introduction to Mr Marais here:
Although her neighbours have talked to her about the way they are portrayed in her videos, they luckily have no serious problems with it as long as it is done to make people laugh … and as long as their identities are kept private. And that is exactly what she is doing … making people curl up with laughter.
Since she started posting the videos in March, and also being featured on Jacaranda FM, her followers have grown to over 25 000.
She welcomes the comments and also responds to the requests she receives from future TikTok posters as fast as she can. But, all that’s really important to her is that her followers and her community know, during these tough times, we all need to laugh a little and that we need to embrace our neighbours, their habits and their cultures.
See more of her videos here:
