Drum 70th| John Kani speaks to us about the longevity of his career and what Drum has meant to him over the years | Drum – News24

Legendary actor and theatre playwright John Kani speaks to us about his career and appearing on his first Drum cover.

He still remembers it to this day the first time he appeared in DRUM magazine. Its not something thats easy to forget, at least not for him, says award-winning and internationally acclaimed actor John Kani. DRUM is only 70? Oh man, its so young, he says with a laugh. Maybe its because Im not as young. When he talks of DRUM, he cant help but gush over what the brand has meant and means for black people. He made his first appearance in the print product in 1975, John (77) recalls.

We [he and celebrated playwright and actor Winston Ntshona] had just come back from New York after winning a Tony Award for The Island. [Photojournalist] Alf Kumalo was waiting for us at the then Jan Smuts airport, now OR Tambo. We came through and he came to us and said, Show me this thing. So I opened this wonderful little velvet bag and there was the Tony award and on it was written, John Kani, dramatic star on Broadway. Alf asked Winston and I to jump in the air and say, Got it. And that picture in front of OR Tambo was in the magazine.

I made it. Im in the DRUM magazine, I thought. It meant that he became known in every corner of the republic even the deepest rural communities because hed appeared in the magazine. Everybody knows Im a star. Because the DRUM was that kind of magazine. Even people who couldnt read loved it, he says. Theyd look at the pictures and get to know the stars.

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Drum 70th| John Kani speaks to us about the longevity of his career and what Drum has meant to him over the years | Drum - News24