Happy Braai Day!

24 September is Heritage Day, or as some refer to it, National Braai Day. We chatted to Jan Scannell, the man who recently broke the Guinness World Record for the longest braai ever recorded - and the founder of Braai4Heritage.

Q: Congratulations on breaking the Guinness World Record, and how are you feeling about it?
A: I am so satisfied! I decided to break this record for two reasons firstly, because it existed but it didn't belong to South Africa. And secondly, to raise awareness for Braai4Heritage on 24 September. It was successful on both accounts.

Q: Why did you start this initiative and why do you think so many people are buying into it?
A: Many leading nations of the world have national days of celebration. Currently South Africa does not have one. In addition, we live in a fantastic country, the best in the world. There needs to be an annual day where we celebrate this and where all the citizens of the country has in inclusive celebration, meaning where we can all have celebration with a common theme. As for why so many people are buying into it: I think that it simply proves the demand for this. And braaing lies very close to heart for all South Africans.

Q:When you started the initiative, what were you hoping to achieve and did you know that it will be this big?
A:I wanted a positive nation. Yes, I did think it would get this big. In fact I think that it will still get bigger.

Q: How do you feel about Archbishop Desmond Tutu endorsing it?
A: Getting his endorsement gave me massive confidence that we are on the right path.

Q: What would you say to someone who says, “The Braai4Heritage clashes with the National Heritage” and therefore should not be celebrated?
A: This is usually only said by people who heard our message third hand. The agendas of Braai4Heritage and National Heritage Day are mutually inclusive. Read our vision at braai4heritage.co.za and you will understand. We are not saying that you should forget the rest of your heritage. We are saying light a fire, and celebrate all parts of your heritage whilst having a feast around that fire.

Q: What is so different about your initiative?
A: All we are asking you is to have fun on 24 September. By all South Africans having fun on the same day every year, we are achieving nation building on a massive scale.

Q: Any future plans about the initiative?
A: That one day 50 Million people will be around fires on 24 September.

Quick facts about the new Guinness World Record: 

• Jan braaied for 28 hours and 30 minutes and the previous record was held by a German with 28 hours;
• There was a minimum of five different kinds of food (meat) on his braai at all times;
• He was not allowed any direct help and all the braaied food was consumed;
• There were two cameras recording the whole event and the footage was submitted to the association;
• An official Guinness World Record adjudicator flew out from the UK to monitor the event joined by two independent witnesses on hand.

Are you going to be braaing this Friday?

Send us your pictures of your braai with your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and not forgetting your meat, and we'll publish them online! Email them to gabisile.ngcobo@media24.com.