Struan Douglas was born in Umhlanga Rocks Kwa Zulu Natal to Tessa and Robert Douglas in 1976. His early years were dedicated to sport. A near death experience in 1988 shifted his interests from sports to humanities. After graduating from UCT (University of Cape Town South Africa) with honours in religion and philosophy, he worked as a freelance journalist specialising in South African jazz and African music. He created the recording archives Archive Africa, Wondergigs and Goema Captains of Cape Town. The website afribeat.com was launched in 2000 and is a content portal helping people tell their stories. He has authored, edited and published books including; Shadows of Justice, Airborne to Africa, The New South Africa and the friends around her, and The Story of SA Jazz, Volume' s 1 & 2 and To the Peace on Earth.