Drum: Africa’s revolutionary magazine

Jan 17, 2025

Prospero Bailey, son of Drum magazine's founder Jim Bailey, shares captivating stories about his father's revolutionary impact on African journalism. He discusses how Drum became a powerful voice against apartheid, focusing on Black lives and stories often ignored by mainstream media. The conversation dives into the incredible bravery of writers and photographers who risked their lives to unveil harsh societal truths. Additionally, Prospero highlights the vibrant culture and social scene that Jim cultivated, leaving a lasting legacy in African journalism.

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ANECDOTE

Drum Parties

Drum parties were legendary, held on Jim Bailey's farm to evade police.
These parties featured prominent musicians like Miriam Makeba and a mix of personalities.

INSIGHT

Focus on African Voices

Jim Bailey transformed Drum magazine, hiring black journalists to tell authentic stories.
This focus on African voices resonated with readers and contributed to the magazine's popularity.

INSIGHT

Unique Perspective

Drum magazine offered a unique perspective on the black experience in South Africa.
White South Africans gained insight into black perspectives, increasing the magazine's popularity.

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Drum was considered to be the first African lifestyle magazine with a readership of 40,000 in its 1950s heyday. It was first printed in South Africa in 1951 and became a voice of resistance during Apartheid.

Drum hit newsstands in 12 countries across the continent after former World War Two pilot Jim Bailey bought the publication after the first two editions flopped. Jim changed the focus by telling African stories by African writers and shining a spotlight on music, culture and life in the illegal drinking joints known as shebeens.

Black writers including Henry Nxumalo, known as Mr Drum, were credited with revolutionising journalism and literature in South Africa. Reena Stanton-Sharma speaks to Jim's son Prospero Bailey.

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(Photo: The Drum Office in 1954. Credit: Jurgen Schadeberg from The Schadeberg Collection)