National Braai Day

September 24th was National Braai Day ... which is how most South Africans refer to the holiday of Heritage Day. Vince had the day off as opposed to the Fourth of July or Labor Day when he had to work. So I asked myself, "how should we spend our first Heritage Day in South Africa?"

We were invited to a couple of braais, including a Luau ... because you know nothing says South African Heritage like a Hawaiian Luau. Not! We could have had a braai in our own garden, maybe invite some friends or neighbors over. Meh. Didn't seem festive enough for a National Braai Day. Besides, shouldn't we be visiting an actual Heritage site on Heritage Day?

Then I came across this headline in the Heritage Foundation's online newsletter, the Heritage Portal,

World Record Attempt finishing on Heritage Day

And that is how we happened to spend our first Heritage Day taking part in a Guinness World Record Attempt Braai on Constitution Hill in the CBD.

The record was being attempted by Bra Wor, one of the Awethu Project's very first entrepreneurs. Awethu is a public/private partnership whose mission is to create jobs. And lots of them. They are currently incubating over 400 small start-up businesses in Joburg.

Bra Wor (aka Sekhabile) owns a successful braai catering company called Braaifontein which offers the "chisa nyama" experience. Chisa nyama is Zulu for braai and it takes the South African braai up a notch or two, turning it into a real party with music, dancing and lots of laughter.

In order to promote his chisa nyama philosophy of braai-ing, Bra Wor decided to attempt to break the standing Guinness Book of World Records' barbeque marathon record. Based in the Con Hill Precinct in Braamfontein, Bra Wor continuously held a braai from Saturday evening at 5:00 pm on the 21st to Heritage Day on Tuesday at 1:00 pm (> 62 hours!) in the Old Fort courtyard.

There are many rules and regulations governing an attempt to break or set a record with the Guinness people. And you need a slew of volunteers. Timekeepers, witnesses, stewards around the clock from start to finish. Even during the graveyard shifts.

The entire process needed to be recorded on video. Bra Wor was required to have five different foods on the braai at all times. Vegies counted as one food. He also cooked pork chops, beef steaks, boerewors, and chicken to make up the other five. The witness was there to oversee the braai inventory and make sure he complied at all times.

And Bra Wor had to be at the braai the entire time, except for timed breaks. He was given 5 minutes per hour for a break. He could save up his break times and use them for a longer power nap or shower. All breaks needed to be timed by the timekeeper and recorded by the steward.
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witnesses needed to fill out a time sheet and questionnaire

I was given the job of steward during the last shift on Tuesday morning. Bra Wor actually broke the record just as my shift started!  So I was working with a Guiness World Record holder throughout my shift. All the local newspapers and television stations came to interview him. He had made the morning papers already. Needless to say everyone was in a celebratory mood!

the entire braai was recorded for compliance

Besides my responsibility to record breaks, I also had to weigh each piece of food that came off the braai, and document the type of food and the weight. At the end of my shift, I had to tally and record the total number of pieces cooked and the total break time used up.

my tools: scale for weighing the meat and veg and tally sheet

serving up the menu

with Kate from Awethu & Bra Wor, record holder

Congratulations Bra Wor!