I keep hearing the word ‘Braai’

South Africans literally refer to their National Heritage day as national braai day. The event itself screams unity and camaraderie, which exemplifies South Africans to a tee. The word ‘braai’ is derived from the Dutch word ‘braden’, meaning ‘roast’, and is the act of grilling fine cuts of meat over the open fire.

The word braai is understood and used amongst all of the 11 recognized national languages of South Africa and brings people together in a way that only sports events can compare. We braai when we are happy, and we braai when we want to be happy. Any time of day, you can smell the sizzling flames of meat dripping on open coals in every neighborhood around the country. That is a braai. That is South Africa.