'Watkine, Booooi!' – How 'Yo Shezzy' became Durban's viral phenom

“WATKINE BOOOOI!” – the now-iconic TikTok greeting that’s sweeping through South African For You pages like wildfire. If you’ve been anywhere near social media in the past six months, chances are you’ve heard it – or even mimicked it. Behind the phrase is a cheeky grin, a Durban twang, and the boy-next-door charm of 18-year-old Shehzaad Shaik, better known by his digital alter ego - ‘Yo Shezzy’.

We catch up with Shezzy on a rare off-day in Cape Town, where he’s been enjoying a short break from his hometown of Durban. Dressed in relaxed drip yet unmistakably styled green Lacoste tracks and white kicks - he exudes the kind of Gen-Z cool that’s equal parts effortlessness and algorithmic genius. “Cape Town’s been great,” he tells us, sunglasses halfway down his nose. “But Durban is still home. That’s where the hustle started.”

Born and raised between Durban’s suburbs of Town, Sydenham, and Wyebank, Shezzy isn’t your average teen content creator. His journey didn’t begin in a bedroom studio with ring lights and a dream. It started with parents who taught him self-reliance, a schoolyard side hustle, and an instinct to stand out. Although his parents are divorced, he learnt valuable lessons from them both. 

“I grew up with my dad and I learned early on to be independent. I didn’t want to always ask for money or things. So I started hustling in school — buying and selling stuff. That’s where I found my confidence,” he says.

That entrepreneurial spirit, fused with natural charisma and a flair for the dramatics would become the foundation of his brand. “I was always that guy who just did his own thing. I would and still speak my mind. I’m real and authentic with everyone around me. So when I stopped caring about what people thought about me and stayed true to myself -  That’s when I became Shezzy.”

His break into content creation wasn’t exactly planned. “I never saw myself doing any of this. I saw another influencer get stopped for selfies, and I thought, wow!, that’s cool. So I made a video. Next morning — boom! 400,000 views.”

And just like that, a brand was born.

Fast forward 10 months, and ‘Yo Shezzy’ is now one of the most recognisable South African faces on TikTok and Instagram. With his signature greeting turned catchphrase, he’s got a fanbase that mimics his skits, shares his reels, and shows up to meet-and-greets in droves. His content? A mix of Durban street humour, lifestyle snippets, tongue-in-cheek commentary, and on-point acting. “I don’t force anything,” he says. “What you see online is just me — unfiltered.”

What sets Shezzy apart in a saturated influencer market is his multi-dimensional hustle. Beyond content creation, he models, acts, and even dabbles in advertising strategy. “I have really looked at building my brand. My team helps me keep everything moving along smoothly.”

There’s another side to Shezzy that fans might not know: he’s also an incredibly talented footballer. “Soccer was my first love. I still play socially, but my time’s all over the place now. Maybe I’ll lace up the boots again one day,” he laughs.

All in all, Shezzy represents a new wave of young South African influencers — entrepreneurial, self-aware, and brand-savvy. In a country where youth unemployment is one of the greatest challenges, he’s showing that there are new paths being carved out — and new ways to win.

At just 18, he’s already proven that success doesn’t need permission — just Wi-Fi, confidence, and consistency. “I’m not trying to be anyone else. I’m just trying to be the best version of me. That’s what people connect with.”

IOL Entertainment