What can our art be used for? Used by Whom? This edition of Medu explores the importance of art and its inextricable relationship to community. Two interviews, one with playwright Maki Mapogo and another with Musician Johnny Clegg, explore their artforms and the relationships these artforms have to community and activism. The Zimbabwe Writers'Workshop, chronicled in this edition, had extensive discussions on the political responsiblities of writers, includes delegates like Dambudzo Marechera and extracts from writers like Emmanuel Ngara, Micere Mugo and T.T. Moyana. The edition is concluded by Mongane Serote's in-depth article on the Politics of Culture in southern Africa. Front page graphic by Miles Pelo.
Medu declared the year 1983 as the "Year of Women", placing an image of a women with a gun on her back on the front cover of this edition. The first section of this edition covers cultural work both about women and by women. This includes poetry and articles. One poem by Victor Matlou, titled "The Breath of August 9th" engages with the importance of women in the struggle for freedom, starting with his title which refers to the march of women to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 to oppose pass laws. The second section of this newsletter explores "Medu's work and progress", with a particular focus on community oriented art projects. This an exploration of the Ngwedi graphic unit by Mognane Serote, the Community Band-Bond by Mandisa and projects undertaken by the Itumeleng Film Unit. Front page graphic by Miles Pelo.
Memorial service of Jenny and her daughter Katryn Schoon (6 years old) was held on the 8 July 1984 at Anglican Church. They were killed by a parcel bomb in Angola, six months after they fled Botswana due to attempted attack on their home in December 1983. They were murdered on the 28 June 1984. Programme has key note speakers, hymns, South African Anthem and Botswana National Anthem.
These are the minutes of the Medu publication and research unit meetings that were held between 1982 and 1983. P&R was established to manage general administrative matters, and to address issues relating to the structure, layout and publishing of newsletters, the holding of events and the publishing of monographs and books. In 1983 P&R was divided into the Naledi Writers Unit, and the Medu Executive.