Julian Bahula OIG (13 March 1938 – 1 October 2023) was a South African drummer, composer and bandleader, based from 1973 in Britain, where he formed the music ensemble Jabula.
As Eugene Chadbourne of AllMusic has written: "Bahula has been as tireless a promoter of the music of his homeland in his adopted country as he is an on-stage rhythm activator.
One of his most important moves was establishing a regular Friday night featuring authentic African bands at the London venue The 100 Club.
Players such as Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, and Hugh Masekela were among the performers whose early British appearances were organized by Bahula.
"[3] With the Anti-Apartheid Movement, Bahula organised in 1983 African Sounds, a concert at Alexandra Palace to mark the 65th birthday of Nelson Mandela, with featured artists including Hugh Masekela, Osibisa and Jazz Afrika,[6] drawing a 3,000-strong audience and raising the international profile of Mandela and other political prisoners.