Poster: The Milumbu Dances (1943)

This 1943 poster advertises "The Milumbu Dances" held at the African United Cultural & Domestic Workers Club in Johannesburg (at the corner of Bree and Diagonal Streets).

Subversive Public Holidays: The two dance dates were held on Empire Day (Monday, 24 May 1943) and Union Day (Monday, 31 May 1943). Black South African urban communities and trade unions, such as the Domestic Workers Union, frequently repurposed colonial and state public holidays as opportunities for political organization, social solidarity, and musical celebration.

Cultural History & Jazz Era: The poster features the Rhythm Clouds Band conducted by A. Palmer, capturing the vibrant early Marabi and swing jazz scene flourishing in Johannesburg's inner city during World War II.

Linguistic Detail: The phrase "Tsena Fase Kali" (Northern Sotho/Sepedi phrasing translating broadly to "Come inside, don't stay outside" / "Enter lower down/smartly") highlights the local urban dialect and community appeal used alongside English.

Pre-Apartheid Venue: Located at Bree and Diagonal Streets—the heart of Johannesburg's bustling commercial district—the African United Cultural & D. Workers Club served as an essential social hub and venue before the forced removals and strict segregation enforced by apartheid laws in later decades.

240mm x 375mm

Edges torn, folded, some marks to the surface.

R1,250