The main body of this collection consists of the original DRUM magazine, including its first number in March 1951, up to 1962.

The publication was started as "The African Drum" by Jim Bailey and Bob Crisp, and soon after only called DRUM. Its prime time were the 1950s under the successive editorship of Antony Sampson, Sylvester Stein and Tom Hopkinson. The staff of Black journalists, known as the "DRUM boys" included writers like Henry Nxumalo ('Mr DRUM'), Can Themba, Lewis Nkosi, Todd Matshikiza, Nat Nakasa, William Modisane, Arthur Maimane, Casey Motsisi and Bessie Head, as well as Es'kia Mphahlele, who was fictor editor and Dolly Rathebe. The photographers working for DRUM at the time included Jürgen Schadeberg, Bob Gosani, Peter Magubane, Ernest Cole and Alf Khumalo.

DRUM's golden era came to an end towards the end of 1950s, after the Sophiatown removals and many of its writers going into exile overseas or having died tragically, like Henry Nxumalo who was murdered in Johannesburg in 1957.

DRUM covered topics ranging from news from the African continent and politics to sport, scouting, crime, culture, art, music and fashion, including fiction writing and photography, as well as extensive advertising.

The DRUM magazine was distributed in different regions throughout Africa, and this collection includes issues published for its readership in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana (West Africa) and East Africa.