Shebeens

Shebeens in Soweto

The word shebeen is derived from ancient Ireland’s speech and it means little mug. A shebeen is a place where groups of friends gathered, usually at someone’s home to share drinks and the host would offer food, and of course, they paid for the drinks. It was an informal bar as liquor was sold without a license. This term has spread in different countries around the world including South Africa.

Here in South Africa shebeens are often found in townships and were especially so during the apartheid era. Most of them were run by women who needed to make an income for their families. They started off selling umqombothi, and later on beers and other types of liquor. Shebeens were convenient informal meeting places for some politicians to gather and debate while at the same time listening to some jazz music.

Often times the Shebeen queens and kings would be arrested for a few hours or a few days by the police force if found operating, but as soon as they got back home they operated again despite the warnings they got to never trade without licenses again.

In the new South Africa, most shebeens operate freely with licenses and in Soweto they are found on every 3^rd or 4^th street of every township but are mostly revamped and refurbished, most of them are now called taverns or bars and are open Monday to Monday. The regular patrons are the locals who go there daily to socialise and catch-up with friends after work before going home.

I once found out from someone I know, who used to drink at a nearby shebeen, that some clients drink on account, without paying daily, they get a bill every last day of the month and pay for everything they drank, for the past month. In such cases, the shebeen queen keeps a note-book with names, dates, debt amounts, and signatures.