Happy Summer! Er, I meant Happy Africa Day!

Happy Summer to MYC!

"Happy Summer!" That is the way everyone greets each other on Memorial Day weekend at parades, at cocktail parties, on the buffet line at the Yacht Club BBQ and during Memorial Day regattas wherever people in the northeastern United States summer. Yes, "summer" is a verb too. As in, "Where do you summer?" (Translation: "Where do you spend your summer?"

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer from whence I hail. But Memorial Day is not a national holiday in South Africa so today is still a work day for most. But coincidentally, today is also "Africa Day" and it is celebrated all over the African continent.

President Zuma spoke in Pretoria for Africa Day

Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). On this day, leaders of 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to promote the unity and solidarity of the African states and act as a collective voice for the African continent. (The OAU was disbanded on 9 July 2002 by its last chairperson, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and replaced by the African Union (AU).)

Africa Day is observed as a public holiday in only five African countries, namely Ghana, Mali, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, celebrations are still held all over Africa and in the rest of the world by Africans of the diaspora.

Happy Afrika Day to Africa!

In Joburg, there were several events taking place over the weekend in celebration of African unity and solidarity. On Sunday, there was an Afrika Day celebration of theatre, dance and food at Common Ground in Maboneng that looked interesting, including a performance of The Forgotten One by ISARO on the POPArt Outdoor Stage. There was a gala concert at the Joburg Theatre on Friday and Saturday nights, a fashion show at the Fashion Kapitol on Saturday, and a jazz, art and poetry night at the Afrikan Freedom Station on Friday night as well. But we did not attend any of them.

We chose instead to continue a USA tradition over this Memorial Day weekend in order to celebrate Africa Day. The US barbeque or as it is known in SA, the braai. Several of them in fact.

Happy Africa Day! (photo by Will Perry)

We spent Saturday afternoon at the Ubuntu Kraal Brewery in Soweto for a special township chisa nyama, brewery tour and beer tasting.

Happy Africa Day SH2015 Gaza Gray group!

And on Sunday I went to an introductory braai in Arcadia to meet my fellow volunteers with whom I will be going on an archaeological dig in Kruger in August. After that Vince and I had an American friend over for a braai at Valley Lodge (complete with Memorial Day Strawberry Shortcake for dessert.) Lou & Serge love the braai!

Memorial Day BBQ at Valley Lodge

And rather than wish everyone a "Happy Summer," I wished them all a "Happy Africa Day!" instead.