Drum Magazine story, South Africa edition, May 1980_003

Coon Carnival to Carmen by Jackie Heyns: This article recounts the story of Joseph Ronald Gabriels, an ex-Coons singer from District Six, achieving his meteoric success in the world of opera at the New York Opera House in 1980. He reflects on his struggles and the unlikely journey from a poor background to the international stage. This narrative embodies the challenges and triumphs of a black man in an era of racism and discrimination. CONTACT US TO ORDER AND LICENSE THE IMAGES FROM THIS ARTICLE