What is my heritage but a braai?

This dispatch originates from the bustling port city of Valparaiso, Chile, where I am a temporary caretaker to another person’s belongings during their work trip. The city, embracing Chile's National Day, is in a state of closure, with museums, shops, and even the rickety funiculars that help traverse the steep hills into the Pacific remaining shut.

Curiosity piqued, I inquire the local guide about traditional celebrations on National Day. The guide, looking after us while most eateries are closed, shares that the typical response would be something like "see family? Brisket?" A chuckle ensues, as I can't help but relate to this, seeing as I, too, hailing from a mixed British heritage, find myself partaking in the quintessential South African tradition of braai.

As a descendant of British stock, my upbringing was steeped in the quintessentially South African elements - Woolworths pick-n-mix, Chappie facts, flipflops, and the mysterious whispers of swart gevaar (the notorious black terror). I remember the traffic lights as "robots," petrol stations as "garages," and corner shops as "cafes." The racial slurs evoked by certain names were unfamiliar to me, as South Africa had its own unique terms of endearment and disdain.

The television programming I was familiar with was limited to English on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and alternate Sundays, with Little House on the Prairie, The Cosby Show, and Shaka Zulu being the only respite. On Tuesdays, we were treated to Misdaad in Miami, either with the original English soundtrack on Radio 2000 or occasionally, the South African alternatives of foreign programs.

My culinary knowledge was enriched with local delicacies such as koeksisters, Kreepy-Kraulys, and shongololos. The ubiquity of corrugated iron roofs, mine dumps, and the Durban skyline were common sights, alongside the allure of drive-ins, Johnny Clegg's music, and Delia Sainsbury's recipes. Among these, the most popular records carried an "Imported" sticker, while cheap cassettes were sometimes found to be Springbok Radio cover versions.

South Africa was never permitted to participate in international sports competitions as "they" feared we would dominate. This is my heritage - a rich and complex tapestry of cultural influences, both overt and subtle, some of which are questionable in today's standards. However, one thing remains constant: the communal act of cooking with fire. Whether by choice or necessity, we all come together in our shared heritage of flames on this Heritage Day.