Media24’s bold entry in East Africa’s magazine market is paying off. Cobus Heyl, head manager of East African Magazine (EAM) says Drum and True Love magazine are performing “well above expectations”. EAM, a partnership between Media24 and the Nation Media Group (NMG) from Kenya, publish Drum and True Love in this region. Each of these magazines has its own editorial, advertising and support teams in Nairobi, Kenya. The first bi-weekly edition of Drum, a news centric family title, hit the streets last week. Drum celebrated its second anniversary in September. The magazine’s circulation increased with 10% last year, and currently has the second biggest readership in East Africa. Fred Waga, Drum editor says, “Our new format will help us be more current. We will be able to stay ahead with the news articles our audience wants to read”. According to Heyl, there is the possibility of Drum becoming a weekly title, but True Love will continue as a monthly glossy. Heyl adds, “We couldn’t launch Drum as a weekly, as it is in South Africa, before we tested the market. Now we can move to the second phase”. True Love has been the biggest women’s title in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for some time. After only two years, True Love has grown to gain the second highest circulation in East Africa. It boasts an average growth increase of 30%. Heyl ascribes EAM’s success to Media24 and NMG support.