The Bantu World was founded by Bertram Paver, together with white liberals such as J.D. Rheinallt-Jones and James Howard Pim. The newspaper was entitled Bantu World from April 1932-December 1955, when it was published as a weekly newspaper intended for the black middle-class elite.
The Bantu World's first editor was Victor Selope-Thema who served until 1952. Under Dr. Jacob Nhlapo, editor from 1953 to 1957, the name of the newspaper was changed to the name World, published from January 1956-October 1977. In June 1933 the Argus Printing Company (established 1889) took over Paver's company, Bantu Press Limited, and with it the ownership of Bantu World.
The newsaper covered a wide range of issues affecting the African community, was trend setting in discussions relating to its female readers, and it gave extensive coverage to black nationalist movements during that period, as well as international news. It also included the comic supplement entitled Mayibuye, and Bantu Pictorial.