Starring on the new Showmax reality show “Shebeen Queens”, Alina Shange, owner of Alina’s Place, has already impressed viewers with her different callings.
The reality show is about three self-made women who are entrepreneurs, and it focuses on their popular shebeens in the township of Soweto, Alina’s Place, Big Mama’s Tavern and Rama Tavern.
The first episode introduces viewers to the queens; Alina Shange, Emily Thabang Leeuw, fondly known as ‘’Big mama’’ and Xoliswa Shwayimba, who open up about their lives and how they juggle their family affairs and businesses.
Shange shares that the shebeen industry is cut-throat and very competitive, as people are not always happy to see one succeed. ‘’Before I had my liquor licence, competitors would call the cops on me,’’ she says.
The shebeen queen does not only assume the role of an entrepreneur, she is also a sangoma and a pastor.
Before delving into the shebeen industry, she used to work at Crown Mines and later completed her traditional healing initiation, she practised as a healer for a few years and accepted her calling as a pastor and an entrepreneur.
When asked about how her church members feel about her being a traditional healer and a pastor, she said: ‘’My church knows everything about my past and has accepted me, they never judged me.’’
Shange adds that juggling these roles does not interfere with her church responsibilities and that she fulfils both roles to the best of her ability.
New episodes air every Thursday.