'All of SA loves to braai'
2007-08-22 22:32
Cape Town - South Africans of all races, cultures, creeds, political views, genders - and even supporters of rival rugby teams will soon gather around the same (braai) fire. Well, figuratively, in any case.
Because September 24, Heritage Day, is also the third national "braai day".
The hope is that all South Africans will unite on that day, doing the one thing that all groups love: braaiing.
Jan Scannell executive chief and "braai tong master" for the day, says the braai is the one activity that most South Africans share.
Reaches beyond culture
"It reaches beyond culture, beyond language, beyond politics, beyond religion."
The idea is to expand braai day into something like the St Patrick's Day festival of Ireland.
"South Africa doesn't have such a day. Our political and religious holidays exclude certain people."
And that's exactly why they decided to hold braai day on Heritage Day.
"Heritage Day doesn't have any baggage. You're not going to irritate some person or another who has religious issues," Scannell said.
On the practical side, September 24 is also very close to summer and they want to celebrate national braai day on the same day every year - so a national holiday would be ideal.
It's all about "establishing a collective heritage for South Africa".
"Figuratively, we're all be sitting around the same fire," Scannell said.
How to take part?
"You just light a braai fire with your friends and family. Don't send money, nothing strange like that. And you can braai anything."
This year they'll be counting how many South Africans take part.
Braaiers are requested to send an SMS to 34761 with the number of people attending their braai. It costs R2 per SMS.
Scannmell said the money would go to the cellphone company concerned.
"We have no ambition to make money. Legally speaking this is a trust: the Mzanzi Braai Institute Trust.
"The beneficiaries of the trust are the South African public and the main aim is to publicise September 24 as national braai day."
A short video has been made for braai day featuring Francois van Coke, lead singer of Fokofpolisiekar and the new group Van Coke Kartel, the actor Neels van Jaarsveld and Nina Liebenberg.
The video No Woman No Braai is a braai sketch with tongue-in-cheek focus on gender roles.
The braai tong master says he prefers to use vineyard wood but also encourages the use of rooikrans.
The most genuine product to braai is definitely boerewors.
"It is absolutely unique," Scannell said .
Although he prefers vineyard cuttings, he doesn't sneer at anyone who prefers charcoal braais.
"There's room for everyone," he said.