For South Africans living in the United States, staying connected to their roots has become easier thanks to the efforts of Emmanuel Thanos, founder of the Bay Area South Africans Club and the Facebook group South Africans in the United States.

Thanos, who moved to the US in March 1983 after completing his studies in South Africa, always dreamed of living in America. “As a child, I had a big American flag above my bed,” he says.

His journey to the US was also a family legacy, as his grandfather had immigrated to the US in the 1920s, before returning to Greece and later settling in Southern Africa.

Once in Oakland, California, Thanos ran a pizza restaurant and occasionally met fellow South Africans. Inspired by these encounters, his vision was to create a social club where South Africans in the Bay Area could meet, host braais and build a community. With the advent of social media, particularly Facebook and its events feature, his vision was brought to life. About 14 years ago, he launched the Bay Area South Africans Club, welcoming a membership that represents the full spectrum of South African society.

The club’s gatherings quickly became an oasis of South African culture, with braais providing a space to recreate familiar sights, sounds and flavours of home. “What I miss most about South Africa is the people… And the undeniable South African vibe!”

Building on this success, Thanos established the South Africans in the United States group on Facebook. Unlike other early South African groups, which were largely for advertising, Thanos’ group focused on content, information and entertainment. Within a year, the group had grown to 5 000 members. Today, it has over 71 000 members, with a supplementary group exceeding 8 000.

The group has become a central hub for South Africans in the US, offering advice on relocation, housing, visas and citizenship processes, and opportunities to socialise and organise local events. Members have forged friendships, business connections and even marriages through interactions on the group.

Thanos’ efforts have also inspired other South Africans across the country to host their own gatherings, creating a ripple effect of community events. “One braai inspires another,” he says, highlighting the growing network of South African social events across the US.

The Bay Area Club additionally hosts seasonal events, such as a South African market in December, where members bake traditional foods and share in the festive atmosphere. These events continue to reinforce cultural ties and the sense of belonging for expats far from home.