The Image of the “Shebeen Queen” in the Novel eTshabhini by Sigogo

This article analyses the image of the Shebeen Queen in the novel Etshabhini (1990) by Ndabezinhle Sigogo. The figure of the Shebeen Queen has been central in Zimbabwean novels, yet no studies so far have focused on her representation in the post-independence period. This study is motivated by the observation that research on gender in Zimbabwean literature, such as the work of Hadebe (2006) and Matshakayile-Ndlovu (2006), has disproportionately emphasised literary works written during the colonial period and those authored by women. Zimbabwean writers often seek to capture how men and women respond to socio-political and economic challenges. In post-colonial Zimbabwe, economic pressures have forced women to abandon traditional roles, entering “men’s spaces” in towns in search of employment and livelihood. Consequently, women’s roles expanded beyond the home, leading to negative stereotypes as they deviated from societal norms. For a long time, African women have been conditioned by culture, tradition, and the philosophies of dominant religions. The image of women in literary works by African men has historically been shaped by traditional roles of marriage, motherhood, and feminine subservience as dictated by patriarchal society. Information for this article was gathered through textual analysis of Etshabhini, African feminist readings, and interviews with native Ndebele speakers in Bulawayo. The findings indicate that the depiction of single shebeen women is largely negative; such women are often portrayed as homewreckers and as sources of societal instability, seen as undermining the moral fabric of society.