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The Drum Archive Shop

The Drum Archive Shop at 44 Stanley

The Drum Archive Shop at 44 Stanley uses the iconic images and South African heritage of the original Drum Magazine from Jim Bailey’s African History Archive and re-interprets them on products including notebooks, greeting cards, and other nifty gifting ideas. Their line of t-shirts and posters on small, medium and large scales has become a sought-after find for design lovers.

The Drum Archive Shop
Mary and Sandra at The Drum Archive Shop. Photography: Arthur Dlamini

More about The Drum Archive Shop

This is one of the independent concept stores in Johannesburg where you can happily spend plenty of time. Explore the curated cover prints, apparel, and other memorabilia that Sandra, Mary and Abby have carefully selected to put on show, and you’ll be guaranteed to find a treasure to take home.

The Drum Archive Shop initially opened their first store in 2021 as a pop-up at 44 Stanley. In December 2024 they renovated space for a refreshed look with a new collection of products.

The Drum Archive Shop
Photography: Arthur Dlamini

The history of Drum Magazine

“Drum enabled us to summon up from the spirit world writers and photographers, dancers and cover-girls, politicians and yes, martyrs in the cause of human freedom: at least recorded them, sometimes we did a lot more than that”  – J. R. A. Bailey 

The magazine was initially launched as The African Drum by journalist and broadcaster Robert Crisp to reflect a colonial narrative, but the turning point came in 1951 when Jim Bailey, a former RAF pilot and the son of a South African mining magnate, took ownership. He relocated the headquarters to Johannesburg and rebranded the publication as Drum. This transformation shifted the magazine’s focus to urban Black culture and emerging African nationalism making it a cultural and political force.

Bailey appointed Anthony Sampson, an Oxford-educated friend, as editor. Under Sampson’s leadership, Drum flourished, becoming a powerful voice for urban Black life and resistance movements.

To ensure authentic representation, Drum established an editorial board featuring prominent cultural and political leaders, including Joe Rathebe, Dan ‘Sport’ Twala, Dr. Alfred Xuma, and Andy Anderson. Early staff members included Sampson, a secretary, and sports editor Henry Nxumalo, later celebrated as “Mr. Drum” for his groundbreaking investigative journalism.

Join the special reopening sip and shop event

Join the team for an afternoon of bubbles and shopping on Friday, 20 December 2024 from 11am to 2pm. There will be discounted prices on end-of-range T-shirts, plus the first 10 customers who spend R1500 or more will receive an R200 gift voucher to use anywhere at 44 Stanley.

Get in touch

When: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Saturday, 9am to 4pm. Sunday, 9am to 3pm
Where: Central courtyard at 44 Stanley, 44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg

Website: 44stanley.co.za/drum-archive
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 083 633 9419

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