Ernest Cole: Shebeens and Bantu Beer

"Two kinds of drinking are found in South Africa today: legal consumption of brandy and government-produced Bantu beer in barren, city-run beer gardens, and illegal drinking of hard liquor and strong beer in privately run hangouts, called shebeens. Drinking of home-made beer was an integral part of the religious, social, economic life of old tribal Africa. Today the ritual significance of beer drinking has largely disappeared." - Ernest Cole, House of Bondage

"The atmosphere of the shebeen is free, in contrast to that of regimented Government beer halls. When spirits run high, someone usually provides music and a woman may break into a dance or staccato of swearwords. It used to be a social disgrace for an African woman to be found drinking with men. Shebeens have changed this."

Ernest Cole's influential 1967 photobook, House of Bondage, captured the everyday hardship faced by Black South Africans during apartheid. A new edition of this pivotal book published by Aperture in 2022, preserves Cole's original writings and images, and includes contemporary perspectives on his life and lasting impact.

This digitization of Ernest Cole's archives, along with his first-person accounts, offers the opportunity to appreciate and comprehend the work of one of South Africa’s most significant photographers. This accessible digital collection makes his legacy available for educational purposes, academic study, and research, effectively integrating Cole's contributions into the global visual heritage.

Read more about Ernest Cole’s biography in the title story, Ernest Cole Archives: House of Bondage.