Drum Magazine social history photographs, South Africa edition 962

South Africa, 1956. Shantytown in City Hall! An appreciative full-house. It all started with the huge, compelling party poster splashed magnetically over Johannesburg: 'Township Jazz' at the Selborne Hall. The poster also carried a controversy, sensitive as a winter blister: there would be shows for 'Europeans only' and shows for 'Non-Europeans only.' All this would take place at the Johannesburg City Hall. There, the music, song, and dance of the townships would be presented by the Union of South African Artists. This Union fights to get better and wider horizons for Non-White artists. So, if this Union claims to champion the cause of us blacks, why on earth should they go in for segregation, separate audiences, and black dates and white dates? "No man, you don't see the point", they'd argue. The Union has achieved something significant if they've secured the City Hall for this. They're bringing out of the dark township halls some of the artists who'd otherwise never ever see the light of day. Township Jazz was a baby that belonged to us. Township Jazz was the baby 'European Jazz' can't have. He's black, brown, green, gold, and everything but white.