Gees

by Paul Perton

Gees*. It’s classic South Africa; spirit, pride, patriotism.

Gees is also spectacuar stadiums with tens of thousands of people from all walks of life, beer, braais (barbequeues), makarapas, chanting, singing, dancing, Shosholoza, crowds, anthems, colour and the wonderful, noisy one-note samba that is the vuvuzela.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the World Cup is our excuse, but you wouldn’t be entirely right. This outpouring is a young nation, making its way with joy, celebration and gees.

No denying. We’ve got it!

* pronounced with a throat–clearing g, then a double e as in queer, peer, or seer and and a plain–old long s. Try it; gees. Again; gees. That sounds just fine.