Shebeen

Shebeen is a musical drama with story, dialogue and lyrics by Bill Brewer with music by Lionel Pillay, Lemmy Special and Elijah N’kwanyana.

Original text

Set in Cape Town’s District Six (before the apartheid government tore it down), Shebeen fuses African jazz, kwela, marabi. It is the story of a feud between two Shebeen Queens - the one old and embittered, the young, exotic and attractive and in love with her rival's son. A murder is committed, and as the law closes in, the colourful characters in District Six work out their destiny.

The cast album was recorded and released by Gallo (Africa) Limited.

Performance history in South Africa

1959: Produced by Alfred Herbert and first performed in Cape Town by the cast of African Jazz and Variety. Starring Ben Satch Masinga.

Sources

http://electricjive.blogspot.com/2011/09/shebeen-1959-south-african-jazz-musical.html

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