While in theory all citizens embrace the ‘Rainbow Nation’ concept, in practice it’s not so simple.

In the spirit of social cohesion, all are encouraged to celebrate their individual traditions in the wider context of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs, traditions and customs that make up the nation of South Africa.

Out of these is woven a common thread, the sum of which is greater than the parts. But finding common denominators in a country that for starters has 11 official languages, is not easy.

Each of those tongues has a history and a tradition, and the past remains deeply rooted in the present, embedded in its vocabulary as much as its memory.

The icons of one culture are the arch-enemies of another.

There is a thin dividing line of opinion between ‘settlers’ and ‘invaders’; and were they ‘brave venture capitalists’ or ‘selfish exploiters of the naive’?

So while it’s ‘bring your diverse cultural heritage in dance and song’, the small print says: ‘but not those leaders, monuments or memorials which instituted or shaped that heritage, lest they spoil the unity’.

So then, how do we negotiate this minefield, where my historic hero could be your stumbling block?

Of course we could simply have had one less public holiday – but that would be entirely against the spirit of a nation that declares holidays at the drop of a statue.

A brilliant compromise was reached: keep the holiday but get the focus away from cultural and historical division and deflect it onto something that is acceptable and pleasing to all….a braai!

From bad to wors! How does anyone take offence at a juicy, underdone steak?

Is not the smell of enmity in the nostrils cancelled out by the wafting of that delicious braai smoke, like the incense at the Day of Atonement?

Let the one without sin cast the first lamb chop!

Maybe there is a richer symbolism, and the braai coals represents the fiery history that had to take place before the perfectly done sosatie could prevail.

And in the all-embracing spirit of inclusivity, even bunny chow and breyani may be enjoyed at the local shisa nyama.

The cherry on the top comes when the dop is added to the tjop: ‘Simunye, my braai, we are one.’

I’m left with one question: how do vegetarians celebrate the day?

*Dave Savides is the editor of the Zululand Observer.