Johannesburg’s Solly’s Corner is alive with sizzling hake, golden chips, and homemade sauces as food influencer and radio DJ Nick Hamman steps behind the counter. With over 200,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, Hamman has spent the last two years championing South African food businesses, bringing attention to family-run restaurants, township barbecues, and street-food legends.
Hamman believes “food is political”, connecting culture, history, and memory across South Africa’s diverse communities. His videos feature dishes from boerewors sausages and breyani to mala mogodu intestine stew and magwinya doughnuts with liver, highlighting culinary traditions that tell the story of the country.
Solly’s Corner, founded in 1956, survived apartheid-era evictions, the Covid-19 pandemic, and a 2021 fire. Hamman’s videos have garnered 1.7 million views, boosting the business by 50–60%. The family even named a burger after him in appreciation.
Hamman also showcases innovative township chefs like Gift Sedibeng, who runs Siga Culinary in Alexandra. Sedibeng blends local street food with global flavors, such as his towering “MexiKasi” kota burrito, attracting visitors from across Johannesburg.
In places like Madala Hostel, Hamman highlights traditional Zulu barbecues (shisanyama) and stewed cow’s head meat (inyama yenhloko), revealing a rich food culture often hidden behind historical and social challenges. By showcasing these culinary hubs, Hamman aims to stimulate local economies and encourage visitors to explore areas like Alex, often overlooked due to perceptions of crime.
Through his engaging content, Hamman not only celebrates South Africa’s diverse cuisine but also fosters economic opportunities, cultural appreciation, and a sense of unity across communities.
