Pan-African Magazines

Regional versions of Drum and popular women’s magazines captured the spirit of Black African urban life—politics, fashion, music, civil rights, identity, and independence—from the 1950s through the early 1990s, a period of sweeping change.

The issues are rare—almost never seen outside their countries of publication. Extant paper issues are deteriorating. Newly digitized versions are available only through Pan-African Magazines.

Exclusive Pan-African coverage

Through an exclusive agreement with Drum Archive in Johannesburg, formerly Bailey’s African History Archive (BAHA), Coherent Digital’s Pan-African Magazines delivers over 70,000 pages of content.

Included are rare and newly digitized regional editions of Drum:

• Drum South Africa: 1974–1983
• Drum isiZulu: 1963–1964
• Drum East Africa: 1957–1991
• Drum Federation: 1960–1961
• Drum West Africa: 1954–1957
• Drum Ghana: 1958–1972
• Drum Nigeria: 1958–1982
• Drum International: 1966

Pan-African Magazines is the newest module on the Africa Commons platform. It complements and expands the value of three other modules—Black South African Magazines; West African Magazines; and East African Newspapers, Magazines, and Films: The Hilary Ng’weno Collection.

Included are virtually full runs, with only the occasional missing issue, and we continue to search. Drum South Africa was sold to new ownership in 1984; we’re in discussions to extend our coverage.

DRUM

Often hailed as “Africa’s leading magazine,” Drum documented political resistance and everyday life, from apartheid-era South Africa to newly independent nations like Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya.

Of special interest to scholars in Pan-African Magazines will be the first-ever digitization of the later years of Drum: 1974-1983—extending the reach of Drum: 1951 to 1973, currently available in Coherent’s Black South African Magazines collection.

DRUM regional editions

With regional Drum, scholars can compare Black African urban life country by country during decolonization—for a Pan-African understanding of the diverse ways in which countries created their national identities, acted politically, defined gender roles, developed individual cultural movements, and chose to modernize.

Each regional edition was locally produced, with original reports, photography, and editorials customized for its audience. With less than 10 percent content overlap, the news stories, cultural features, fashion, interviews, and serialized fiction were largely unique to each region.

Of special note is the isiZulu edition. Drum isiZulu captures Black South African urban life during apartheid, written in the language of the people who lived it. It documents events, protests, politics, and fashion through an isiZulu lens, offering a vivid record of culture and resistance.

Popular women’s magazines

Two of the most popular women’s magazines, which were read across Africa, focused on modern African womanhood and discussed relationships, beauty, health, and home—topics rarely centered in print at the time. Coverage includes:

True Love

• East Africa: 1981–1991
• South Africa: 1977–1983

Trust

• Nigeria: 1971–1976

The regional editions emerged quickly, fueled by the same spirit that was driving independence movements across Africa. The magazine consistently stood in opposition to those in power. My father was a rebel—he and others understood the power of the press. — Prospero Bailey, Director of Drum Archive and son of Jim Bailey, founder of DRUM

Locally sourced and digitized, and free to Africans

Keeping to our commitment to source and produce African Commons content within Africa and using African resources, our digitization partner for Pan-African Magazines is Africa Media Online, a South African organization whose mission is “Africans telling Africa’s story.” Digitization takes place onsite at Drum Archive, to ensure the safety and preservation of these fragile materials.

Coherent offers free access to Pan-African Magazines for libraries and educational organizations within Africa.