S H E B E E N // S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N P U B & R E S T A U R A N T
In 1927, South Africa passed the Liquor Act that prohibited non-white South Africans from entering licensed premises or selling alcohol.
‘Shebeen’, the word, originated in Ireland, and was used for an illicit bar selling alcohol unlicensed. Shebeens were run illegally in people’s homes and yards in South Africa, and most alcohol was brewed on the premises by women called Shebeen Queens. These women provided 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. Shebeens still form an important part of today’s social scene. They represent a sense of community, identity, and belonging
Inspired by those old illegal pubs in South Africa, Shebeen's identity uses the hand image as a way to represent identity, culture and community.
