History of the braai – how culture and the media collided

702's John Perlman speaks to Unathi Funde, a PhD candidate at the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria.

Listen below:

As with most things in life, the more you delve into the history of something, the more interesting it becomes.

Funde says while the actual cooking method has been around for a very long time, it's only quite recently that it has gained more meaning.

"Pre-1930s in South Africa, the braai didn't have as much of a social and cultural significance, but by the beginning of the 1930s it starts to be used as a fundraising event...  which quickly changes and becomes linked to Afrikaner nationalism during that period."

- Unathi Funde, Department of Historical and Heritage Studies - University of Pretoria

These 'braaivleisaands' were massive social events, often attended by thousands of people.

Of course, that's not all that was happening in the country at the time.

"The shisanyamas were going on as well... they were part of eating houses in urban areas –  mainly for black miners."

- Unathi Funde, Department of Historical and Heritage Studies - University of Pretoria

Funde says by the 1970s, the braai started to be used as an icon of leisure – especially among the white population.

"Anything having to do with leisure was advertised with the braai – so a holiday, the purchasing of a new home, deodorant, beauty products, cars... so the strength of the symbolism of the braai as a cultural icon was used to sell other products."

- Unathi Funde, Department of Historical and Heritage Studies - University of Pretoria

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion, and learn more on Johan Fourie's blog.