Boys Beating the Drum

"Boys Beating the Drum," 1946. This photograph is featured with this caption in Bengt Sundkler's book "Bantu Prophet in South Africa." The rest of the caption reads as follows: "Drums are popular, indispensable for keeping the rhythm. The old gentleman in the center, attired in clerical collar and vestments, follows, more than leads, the rhythm with his stick." Photographic image of an old man is standing outside holding a stick in front of him. There are several women and children standing behind him. Nearby on the left of the photographic image is a boy standing near two drums. Photograph by Constance Stuart Larrabee, 1948.

Constance Stuart documented church services, processions, and baptisms in several African churches. A 1938 series of photographs shows a baptism near Pretoria. In 1946, she spent time with several congregations in the Johannesburg area. Some of these photographs were published in Bengt Sundlker's book "Bantu Prophets in South Africa" (first published by Lutterworth Press, London 1948).

There are no prints of this negative in the Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection. EEPA produced an 8x10 study print for reference purposes.