Have You Seen Drum Recently?

Have You Seen Drum Recently? is a documentary film directed by Joris Ivens and released in 1989, featuring interviews with Henri Cartier-Bresson, Chris Marker, and William Klein. The film explores the history of the French magazine Drum (magazine), which was founded by Jim Bailey (editor), and its impact on African literature and South African art. The documentary also features appearances by Nadine Gordimer, Mandela, and Desmond Tutu, and includes footage of Soweto and Johannesburg. The film's title is a reference to the magazine's influence on African culture and its role in promoting anti-apartheid activism, as seen in the works of Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.

● Introduction

The documentary Have You Seen Drum Recently? is a tribute to the Drum (magazine), a publication that played a significant role in promoting African literature and South African art during the apartheid era. The film features interviews with notable figures such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Nadine Gordimer, who discuss the magazine's impact on African culture and its role in promoting anti-apartheid activism, as seen in the works of Albert Luthuli and Steve Biko. The documentary also explores the magazine's history, from its founding by Jim Bailey (editor) to its eventual decline, and features footage of Soweto and Johannesburg, as well as interviews with Henri Cartier-Bresson, Chris Marker, and William Klein. The film's director, Joris Ivens, was a renowned documentary filmmaker known for his work on films such as The Spanish Earth and Far from Vietnam, and his collaboration with Jean-Luc Godard and Alain Resnais.

● Background

The magazine Drum (magazine) was founded in 1951 by Jim Bailey (editor) and quickly became a prominent voice for African literature and South African art. The magazine featured the work of notable writers such as Es'kia Mphahlele, Can Themba, and Lewis Nkosi, and played a significant role in promoting African culture and challenging the apartheid regime. The magazine's influence extended beyond South Africa to other parts of Africa, where it inspired a generation of writers and artists, including Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o. The magazine's history is also closely tied to the Congress of the People, the African National Congress, and the Pan African Congress, and features interviews with Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and Yusuf Carrim.

● Plot

The documentary Have You Seen Drum Recently? explores the history of the Drum (magazine) through a series of interviews with notable figures, including Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Nadine Gordimer. The film also features footage of Soweto and Johannesburg, as well as archival material from the magazine's archives, including works by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Chris Marker, and William Klein. The documentary examines the magazine's impact on African literature and South African art, and discusses its role in promoting anti-apartheid activism, as seen in the works of Steve Biko and Mamphela Ramphele. The film also explores the magazine's decline and eventual closure, and features interviews with Jim Bailey (editor) and other former staff members, including Todd Matshikiza and Bloke Modisane.

● Reception

The documentary Have You Seen Drum Recently? received positive reviews from critics, with many praising its thoughtful and nuanced exploration of the Drum (magazine) and its impact on African culture. The film was screened at several film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival, and won several awards, including the Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival award for best documentary, and the FESPACO award for best documentary. The film has also been praised by scholars and critics, including Achille Mbembe, Njabulo Ndebele, and Breyten Breytenbach, who have noted its importance as a historical document and its contribution to our understanding of African literature and South African art.

● Cultural Impact

The documentary Have You Seen Drum Recently? has had a significant cultural impact, both in South Africa and internationally. The film has been widely screened and has helped to promote a greater understanding of the Drum (magazine) and its role in promoting African culture and challenging the apartheid regime. The film has also inspired a new generation of writers and artists, including Zakes Mda, Mongane Wally Serote, and Ingrid de Kok, who have been influenced by the magazine's legacy and its commitment to promoting African literature and South African art. The film's impact can also be seen in the work of Kendell Geers, William Kentridge, and Marlene Dumas, who have all been influenced by the magazine's innovative approach to African culture and its role in promoting anti-apartheid activism.

● Legacy

The documentary Have You Seen Drum Recently? is an important historical document that provides a unique insight into the history of the Drum (magazine) and its impact on African culture. The film's legacy can be seen in the many writers and artists who have been influenced by the magazine's innovative approach to African literature and South African art, including Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o. The film has also contributed to a greater understanding of the apartheid era and the role of anti-apartheid activism in challenging the apartheid regime, as seen in the works of Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and Yusuf Carrim. The film's director, Joris Ivens, was a renowned documentary filmmaker known for his work on films such as The Spanish Earth and Far from Vietnam, and his collaboration with Jean-Luc Godard and Alain Resnais. The film is a testament to the power of documentary filmmaking to capture the complexity and nuance of historical events, and its legacy continues to be felt in the work of filmmakers such as Raoul Peck and Hassan Blasim.

Category:Documentary films