‘Strange things happen when the lights are low’: The South African Night in Drum, 1951–1960

Figures & data

Figure 1. Photograph of the header of Drum’s regular column ‘Negro Notes from U.S.A.’. (‘Negro Notes from U.S.A.’, Drum, Johannesburg, October 1951, p. 10. Copyright © Baileys African History Archive / Africa Media Online / african.pictures.)

Figure 2. Can Themba photographed by Jürgen Schadeberg. (‘£50 Winner of Short Story Contest’, Drum, April 1953, p. 21. Copyright © Jürgen Schadeberg – Baileys African History Archive / Africa Media Online / african.pictures.)

Figure 3. Drum’s 1952 depiction of the two sides of the night in Durban. (‘Durban Exposed: City with Two Faces’, Drum, Johannesburg, July 1952, p. 17. Copyright © Baileys African History Archive / Africa Media Online / african.pictures.)

Figure 4. An advertisement for Eveready Batteries in Drum. (Drum, Johannesburg, September 1958, p. 12. Image ref. APN33809, 98_886. Copyright © Drum Ads / Baileys African History Archive / Africa Media Online / african.pictures.)

Figure 5. Drum’s coverage of ‘Big Jay’ McNeeley performing in California. (‘Go! Go! Go! “Big Jay” Sends Jazz Fans Crazy!’, Drum, Johannesburg, May 1953, p. 19. Copyright © Baileys African History Archive / Africa Media Online / african.pictures.)