About the Project
Beat the Drum is a contemporary South African film about the devastation of
HIV / AIDS. Young Musa is orphaned after a mysterious illness strikes his
village. In search of his uncle
and the truth about what is killing his people, Musa sets out for the big
city. He sneaks
aboard a truck driven by Nobe, a father of four girls but no boys, who tries
to help Musa find
work in Johannesburg. However the streets are already teeming with other
orphaned ‘street
kids.’ Urged by his determination to survive and his growing social
awareness, Musa finds a
way to make an honest living and returns to his village with a truth and
understanding his
elders have failed to grasp.
