Stunts – The city shebeen

Langalakhe Mabena 

According to the law, shebeens are illegal. 

Despite such a fact, those who enjoy their beer often see themselves on the wrong side of the law after being arrested at shebeens, as they can’t avoid going a day without having one or two quarts of their favourite lager or beer at their preferred places.

With shebeens being part and parcel of a black man’s culture, a public sphere of some sort where people can engage in their social discussions, it will be a hard task for beer imbibers to avoid gracing such a place.

There is a joint in Bulawayo town which has stood the test of time. It’s an alternative to shebeens.

Stunts, often called “the city shebeen,” has for the past years been a culture in Bulawayo, a vibrant place where the mature crowd meets to have one or two, if not many. 

What makes the place more exciting is the music that complements Stunts. Your gems from Matshikos, Splash, Soul Brothers, Zumba music, Jazz, Tuku Music as well as new age music that can resonate with the mature crowds, are the order of each day and night at the joint.

Such music allows many to chew nostalgic bones, and have joyful flashbacks of the yesteryear courtesy of the music they grew up listening to back in those days.

“From Friday to Sunday, this is my favourite spot to attend because I feel like it always cultivates my culture and how I was raised. I grew up in the dusty streets of Iminyela. My grandmother used to own a shebeen.

“Every song that plays here, be it Soul Brothers or Splash, always makes me remember those days back then. Besides, my father was a staunch fan of Ogandaganda and Ofeleba. Every time I hear such music I always feel like my late father is next to me.

“You will never find me anywhere, I am always here, reconnecting with my roots and identity,” said Mandlenkosi Nxumalo.

Despite the place being intimate, accommodating a reasonable number of revellers, Stunts is always at its full capacity.

How has Stunts managed to maintain its shebeen status and attract almost the same crowd day in and day out?

Its proprietor Nhlanhla Nkomo spills the beans.

“It’s simple, give people what they want. In whatever we are doing, it still remains a fact that shebeens have and will always be part of our culture. Some of us grew up emalokitshini and we resonate very well with shebeens.

“This is a place where our parents, uncles and aunties used to go and have a drink because it was a place where they could discuss their everyday lives. 

“Songs that promoted Ubuntu were played at shebeens and this is what we are trying to revive here as Stunts, by giving people the feel of how life was and how it should be like,” said Nkomo.

He said the quality of music they play at the joint has kept them going as many can identify with the sound culturally.

“Stunts has managed to remain true to its culture and ethnicity over the years. We make sure we are consistent in our music genres and that is the heartbeat of our business. We are also looking for ways to continuously improve customer service and strive to grow our patronage. 

“Ubuntu is also something we personally believe in and we will always instil. Many people when they are here, they get time to reminisce on their past, that of their fathers and how life was like. We are a place of therapy to many through the music we play as well as our services,” said Nkomo.

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