Artists: Thami Mnyele

What is a progressive song? In this paper entitled "Song and Struggle", Muff Andersson argues that musicians (primarily lyrical musicians) should write songs that "keep the cogs of the struggle moving on". This can be done through writing progressive songs or ensuring that a communities' consciousness is reflected in a song and its ideas.

A sticker by Thami Mnyele for culture and resistance festival , Gaborone, 1982.

Artists: Judy Seidman

Cover design for SANRU by Judy Seidman on behalf of Medu. Flyer published by Botswana Orientation Centre in Gaborone, Botswana.

Artists: Thami Mnyele

The title of this Medu special edition is "No to the White Republic, Yes to the People's Republic". While PW Botha held celebrations for the anniversary of the Apartheid republic, Medu used this edition to say "Stop the Republic Day Festival". Bachana Mokwena's article on the 20th anniversary of the "bloodthirsty republic" gives a strong historical background to the processes of the republics formation, and the united opposition against it. Further, John Donne writes about Grigori Oganov's insight into the relationship between culture and resistance and between art, artists and their communities. Artworks by Thami Mnyele are included throughout the publication. Front page graphic by Judy Seidman and the Medu Art Collective.

The title of this Medu special edition is "No to the White Republic, Yes to the People's Republic". While PW Botha held celebrations for the anniversary of the Apartheid republic, Medu used this edition to say "Stop the Republic Day Festival". Bachana Mokwena's article on the 20th anniversary of the "bloodthirsty republic" gives a strong historical background to the processes of the republics formation, and the united opposition against it. Further, John Donne writes about Grigori Oganov's insight into the relationship between culture and resistance and between art, artists and their communities. Artworks by Thami Mnyele and Judy Seidman are included throughout the publication, including a sharp and graphic description of black life in South Africa entitled "Fragments: A Brief Comment on Black Lives in South Africa" by Thami Mnyele. Front page graphic by Judy Seidman and the Medu Art Collective.

This is the original draft of the article by Thami Mnyele for Staffrider in 1984. He explains how Bongiwe Dlomo's exhibition at the Botswana Museum and Gallery showcases the growth of art in South Africa at the Bostwana Museum and Art Gallery. Mnyele stresses that visual artists in his country [South Africa] should take action or express their thoughts about their struggle - a failure to do so might imply the grave of ignorance that could break their lives as people. Mnyele argues that the country is in need of of new calibre of cultural worker, one who is committed to their community and to struggle in both visual arts and song. In conclusion, Mnyele quoted the call that was made at the gathering of the Art Toward Social Development Exhibition and Culture and Resistance Symposium in 1982: "Forward with the creation of a new calibre of cultural worker!"

Artists: Judy Seidman