jennboeun

I went to the SA National Gallery today and fell in love with their current exhibit: The Indian in DRUM Magazine. The photographs, taken from the archives of DRUM, depict Indian golfers, political activists, daredevils, pinup girls, and gangsters (to name a few) in underworlds, shantytowns, soccer fields, and bohemian jazz clubs. The purpose is to confront stereotypes of the Indian community in South Africa, who arrived as indentured laborers in the 1860s, by showing them to be more than just rich minority shopkeepers.

No pictures were allowed and they weren't selling any prints, so I had to scrounge up a couple from the Internet. These aren't my favorites (Amaranee Naidoo, The Flower Seller, and Indian Women Take to Booze! were), but they'll have to suffice for now.

Sonny Pillay author of Shadow People, Pumpy's Jazz/Goodwill Lounge, Crimson League/Salot Gang fighting for taxi kingship, Dr. Yusuf Dadoo, Amaranee Naidoo and Tommy Chetty riding the Wall of Death, Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum the two-time winner of the Natal Open and three-time winner of the Dutch open who took tea in his car because only whites were allowed in the tournament clubhouse, Links Padayachee and Juggie Naidoo, Benny Singh with his "black" boxing, Mother India, Runya Naidoo and Violet La Tange who conquered ballroom dancing, and both flower sellers - I'll remember.