The Medu Festival Edition has been termed as such because it contains some of the best articles, poems and short stories collected in earlier editions. This is Medu's contribution to the Culture and Resistance Festival of 1982. The aim of the festival was to showcase examples of the rich cultural heritage of southern Africa. The display of art and culture aims to challenge the brutal and systemic repression of the cultural life faced by the oppressed in South Africa. This edition contains a range of poetry and short stories each poignantly reflecting on the tumult of the 1980s. The poetry and prose of Mongane Serote, John Donne, Miles Pelo, Mafika Gwala and Mandlenkosi Langa are included. The edition is ended with an interview with Thami Mnyele and graphics from Medu members. Front page graphic a collection of Medu poster arranged by the Medu Art Collective on silkcreen.

Newsletter has interview section of Mosa Jonas Gwangwa who is a composer, musician and member of Medu Art Ensemble. He is interviewed by Medu project co-ordinator Mongane Serote. Jonas Gwangwa shares his background from his early childhood when his parents arrived at Orlando in 1931. Furthermore, he talks about his musical background that is influenced by his musical family.

In this newsletter, there are five poetry sections, namely Dead roots, Apology from London by Arthur Nortje, Miles of many fears by Bachana wa Mokwena, A prayer for Africa from the mouths of babies by Mandlenkosi Langa and I surrender by Thele Moema. Other section is the art review of the film by Mongane Serote called 'The wild Geese'. Medu's views on burning current issues in South Africa are included, interview by Bachan wa Mokwena interviewing Teresa Devant de Gonzalez regarding the theatre and the role of an artist in an oppressive system. Lastly, there are featured articles by Molefe Pheto, Phetu Serote and Timothy Williams.

Newsletter was issued in 1980 during the first quarter in March. Poetry section of this issue includes Tribute to Martyrs by James Matthews, Alex death blues by Dumisani Dhlamini, untitled poetry by Chippa wa Moagi. A short story by Mongane Serote titled the mosquito. An interview of Thamsanqa Mnyele interviewed by Tim Williams. Thami talks about his journey as a South African painter and designer. Thami Mnyele was a member of Medu. Lastly, the cover design of this newsletter was designed by F. Mbali and illustration by Thami Mnyele.

Cultural Bodies are a means for artists to learn from and communicate with their communities. How is it done? This edition of Medu opens discussion on the inter-communication between artists and communities. To this end, a "Graffiti Page" has been added to allow for public comments on Thami Mnyele's exhibition, which was held at the Gaborone Museum. Critical artistic reflection is included in this issue through reviews of the art of Thami Mnyele, Maselwa Malatji, Bachana Mokwena and Dennis Brutus. Like all Medu Newsletters, this includes exciting poetry by Mongane Serote and Keorapetse Kgositsile. Front page graphic by Heinz Klug on lithograph.

The central thrust behind this newsletter by the Medu Art Ensemble is the need to do art collectively and with a consciousness about community. The poetry section includes "Out of the faceless ghettos" by Bachana Mokwena. In this poem, his constant refrain to "Momma" reflects on the personal and structural pain of Apartheid through alternating between the words "momma", "mother" and "motherland". Here he laments the long history of racial oppression, the scars on Momma's back and the near-freedom which he grasps. A short story by Tebogo Mosabako entitled "Moshupa Story" relays a story of a young man in Moshupa Botswana, who through an act of goodwill receives care and reciprocity. In the section "Art Review", Dimakatso Dimakatso reviews Penny Miller's "Myths and Legends of Southern Africa", which, it is argued, reinforces the racist myths and legends of southern Africa. Es'kia Mpahlele's "Chirundu", a novel about the "entire process of life" in an (un-named) newly independent African state, is reviewed by Njabulo Ndebele. Each of these artforms presented in this edition speak to community, change, resistance and creativity.

Men, women, the youth and children from all sections of the South African society, from all colours, through various activities, this year, stated clearly their rejection of the racist republic. This edition of Medu adds artistic expression to the struggle against Apartheid through the poetry of Mongane Serote and James Pitse. Pitse's poem entitled "Writing on the Wall" speaks about an event in 1981 when a white women shot and killed a black worker. The poem's constant refrain "writing is on the wall" speaks to the absolute fury that people have towards Apartheid and the collective clarity that it should be destroyed. This edition also reflects on the role of culture in the struggle through articles by Judy Seidman and Robert Moloi as well as through book reviews by John Donne and Mongane Serote. Front page graphic by Gordon Metz on lithograph.

What is the place of artists, cultural activists and writers in the struggle against Apartheid? This edition of the Medu Art Ensemble newsletter, the last of 1981, shares experiences of artists and their range of cultural activities. The issue consists of poetry, articles, short stories and book reviews. The first poem is about the silences imposed by Apartheid, composed by John Donne. Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's article on "Education for a national culture" focuses on the importance of understanding your background and culture, particularly in the context of a liberation struggle. It is certain that artists have a role to play in this process! A short story about "The New Place" by Mongane Serote focuses on an experience of forced removals and resettlement that many black South Africans faced. Front page graphic by Mike Kahn on silkscreen.

This edition of the Medu Art Ensemble newsletter contains poetry, articles, book reviews, play reviews and letters. It contains several articles, critical essays and play reviews and seeks to engage in some "hard talking about the position of culture in our society at this time". This "hard talking" is present in a number of critical articles, notably by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and Judy Seidman. Albie Sachs writes a fascinating letter to Medu which reflects on how much of the literary and artistic work is "agonized". His experience of being in exile in Mozambique has led him to believe that artists are trying to "outshout" the oppressor. He sees value for artists in "building up liberated zones" inside themselves and creating images outside of the context of the oppressor. Front page graphic by Thami Mnyele on silkscreen.

This is the first issue of 1983. This edition, the first since the Culture and Resistance Conference, aims to prioritise the work of local artists. The edition consists of Medu Art Ensemble interviewing John Selolwane, a guitarist for the band Kgalagadi in Botswana, who has a wide experience of playing music in various parts of Africa. John Donne's poem, "After Maseru", follows the Maseru Raid on 9 December 1982 where 42 people suspected of being activists and members of the ANC were killed. Donne gives a sense of the ignorance and apathy of many South Africans to this gruesome massacre by the Apartheid government. There is also a review of the photographic exhibition "Art Towards Social Development" by Tim Williams. He showceses photographs that capture the "cultural reality of Apartheid" and "the vulerability of South African fascism". A second photographic exhibition "Portrait of people", a graphic record of the South African liberation struggle, is reviewed in this issue. It is explained that history of the people is incomplete without pictorial records of the people who made that history. Another interesting piece is an article about culture and resistance in South Africa by Keorapetse Kgositsile. The author explains that the determination and commitment to life which is reflected in arts and cultural resistance is not as new a development in South Africa as some people might think. Front page graphic by Mike Kahn on silkscreen print.