The Bloody Horse

Johannesburg-based ‘The Bloody Horse’ was a periodical that focused on writing and the arts in South Africa during the early ’80s. The publication came into being as a result of a conversation among Patrick Cullinan, Lionel Abrahams, and Chris Hope during the 1974 Poetry Conference in Cape Town. Notably, Abrahams’ influential magazine, ‘The Purple Renoster,’ had closed down, which was massively underrated for its time, and he was open to new opportunities. The main topic of discussion during this conversation was actually about starting Bateleur Press and publishing relevant books of poetry, rather than creating another little magazine. At that time, Contrast, Izwi, New Coin, Staffrider, and Ophir were still thriving

Despite the high cost, time requirements, and the high fatality rate of all little magazines at the time, the group made the decision to publish the The Bloody Horse. Even though only six issues were produced between 1980 and 1981, it played a pivotal role in the establishment of Bateleur Press. In contrast to the mid-70s, in some small way, The Bloody Horse contributed to fostering an environment in which there were at least four publishers keeping the literary field alive in South Africa. These publishers included Ravan, Mantis, Donker, and Bateleur, all of whom regularly published South African verse and provided writers across the country with a platform.

The title, ‘The Bloody Horse,’ alludes to South African poet Roy Campbell’s poem ‘On Some South African Novelists’ and underscores the founders’ belief that literature could play a role in South African political discourse. The response to the editors’ call for contributors was impressive. Ampie Coetzee, a key member of the Afrikaans literary establishment, was invited to join the editorial board, alongside Peter Strauss in Durban and Mark Swift in Cape Town. Chris Hope and Sheila Roberts contributed their respective efforts from abroad. Importantly, Lawrence Herber and his wife Avril, Paul Stopforth, and many others lent their skills, without whom the Arts section would likely not have been as relevant. Chris Russell, the former editor of National Student, also joined the team.

The group initiated work on The Bloody Horse in 1979 with the magazine’s primary objective being the support of writers and artists courageous enough to challenge the growing climate of censorship in South Africa, stemming from the dominant perspectives of Afrikaner Nationalism and the overarching Apartheid regime. Consequently, the majority of contributors to the publication adopted a subversive and politically charged stance, reflecting the imperative for South African writers to respond to the authoritarian and borderline Fascist society of the time. The original plan was for the magazine to be published six times a year, welcoming contributions from all writers in South Africa who were battling against censorship. This brought an element of polemic and dissent, similar to what was evident in other noteworthy magazines like Izwi and Staffrider. Unlike these publications, The Bloody Horse placed a stronger emphasis on critical writing, reviews, and general articles, which arguably set it apart from the others.

The Bloody Horse was written in both English and Afrikaans. The first issue of was published in September 1980, with the sixth and final issue released in December 1981. Patrick Cullinan and Ampie Coetzee served as the magazine’s primary editors throughout its existence. From issue four onwards a number of black poets and writers contributed to the magazine, including Julius Chingono, David m’Mphusu, Uyaduma Mhlaba, and Risimatij Mathonsi. It seems that in an attempt to practice what they preached, the editors created a strategy to include at least one ‘non-white’ contributor to each issue. Based on the editor’s note in the sixth and final issue, it is assumed that the magazine ceased print due to the high cost of publication and increasing pressure from political power structures, rather than a lack of interest or readership. A complete set of The Bloody Horse is preserved in the Colophon archive.

Words by Shane de Lange