Shebeening - Mixed Media Art Painting

Shebeening or a Thousand Rand

Mixed Media Art Painting inspired by the activity of shebeening

Acrylic on canvas.

100 flattened bottle caps equivalent to the sum of approximately 1000 Rand

The word 'Shebeen' derives from Irish sibín, meaning 'illicit whisky'

The term has spread far from its origins in Ireland, to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia .

A shebeen was originally an illicit bar or club where alcohol was sold without a licence.

In South Africa and Zimbabwe shebeens are most often located in black townships as an alternative to pubs and bars, where under Apartheid and the Rhodesian era, black Africans could not enter a pub or bar reserved for whites.

Originally, shebeens were operated illegally, selling home brewed beer and home distilled liquor and providing patrons with a place to meet and discuss political and social issues. Often, patrons and owners were arrested by the police, though the shebeens were frequently reopened because of their importance in unifying the community and providing a safe place for discussion. During the apartheid era shebeens became a crucial meeting place for activists, some attracting working class activists and community members, while others attracted lawyers, doctors and musicians.

Shebeens also provided music and dancing, allowing patrons to express themselves culturally, which helped give rise and support the musical genre Kwaito. Currently, shebeens are legal in South Africa and have become an integral part of South African urban culture, serving commercial beers as well as umqombothi, a traditional African beer made from maize and sorghum. Shebeens form an important part of today’s social scene. In contemporary South Africa, they serve a function similar to juke joints for African Americans in the rural south. They represent a sense of community, identity, and belonging.(wikipedia)