Apius Shanga Reading Notices Posted on Gum Tree, Johannesburg

Man Reading Notice, 1947-48. Photographic image a man leaning on the stub of a tree and looking at two typed sheets of paper, which are eviction notices, attached to a gum tree. The following caption on the reverse of the vintage print of this image reads as follows: "Apius Shanga, who 'makes the skin for the Zulus,' reads the notice telling him to quit. The skins that Apius makes are worn by the Zulu mineworkers when they dress on Sundays to perform their native ward dances." This is an original caption by Constance Stuart Larrabee. Photograph by Constance Stuart Larrabee, 1948.

Constance Stuart took this series of images in African squatters' settlements on the periphery of Johannesburg. They came to Johannesburg, the "Golden City," from all over southern Africa in hopes of finding employment. They were in constant danger of being evicted and having their settlements destroyed. They fought eviction through peaceful mass protest, which Stuart documented in many of these photographs.

There are three 8x10 black and white vintage prints of this negative in the Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection. EEPA also produced an 8x10 study print for reference purposes.