With the likes of Winnie Mandela, Thandi Klaasens, PJ Powers, Gcina Mhlophe, Mfundi Mvundla who are legendary in their own right to the younger glamourous generation of celebrities who're inspired by them such as Bonang Matheba, Sonia Booth, Dineo Ranaka, Uyanda Mbuli, Thembi Seete and DJ Sbu to name a few it truly was a star studded event. Celebrities, politicians and media people alike were there to witness spectacular performances by Zahara, Umoja and the remaining members of Boom Shaka. A comedic act with a musical twist by Somizi or rather his alter ego Madame Gigi was the highlight of my evening. I was literally choking with laughter.
The awards that really stood out for me mainly because of its recepients were the Ubuntu award given to Gcina Mhlophe, her husky and honey-dripping voice is so mesmerizing and captivating that even when she is giving something as simple as an acceptance speech you become so enthralled that you don't even remember where you are anymore. The award for Timeless Beauty went to the legendary singer Thandi Klaasens who's lovely sense of humour came out in her acceptance speech, a true diva she was immune to the unspoken time limit that the audience seems to infect in an award recepient when they are giving their thanks. Nonetheless her speech was anything but boring and was thoroughly enjoyable. Winnie Mandela received the award for Drum Icon because of her life's work which contributed greatly to the freedoms we have today. Penny Lebyane was MC for the evening and DJ Sbu closed off the evening with a very entertaining set.
You only have to look at the Drum covers over the past sixty years to see the evolution that the magazine has gone through. From starting out as a magazine run by a racist editor that viewed black people as ignorant and dumb savages to being a magazine that specialised in investigative reporting about issues affecting black people in the township and about the Sophiatown jazz scene, gangsterism and hot sex scandals in the 1950s to the entertainment related focus that it has today Drum has certainly gone through many transformations and has become a staple magazine in the majority of black South African's homes. Its pages have been filled with South Africa's rich,dynamic and tumultous history and it will probably still be around to record South Africa's future in the sixty years.
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