The people shall govern! : MEDU Art Ensemble and the anti-apartheid poster 1979-1985 / edited by Antawan I. Byrd and Felicia Mings ; with contributions by Antawan I. Byrd, Khwezi Gule, Ashraf Jamal, Felicia Mings, Mongane Wally Serote, and Warren Siebrits.
Published on the occasion of an exhibition held at the Art Institute of Chicago, April 27, 2019-September 2, 2019. Members of MEDU Art Ensemble included Uriel Abrahamse, Muff Andersson, Janet Anendale, Gwen Ansell, Ronald Asani, Tony Cedras, Chris, David, Teresa Devant, Steve Dyer, Lulu Emmig, Felix, Patrick Fitzgerald, Ellen Forrester, Gabi, Tsholofelo Giddie, Barry Gilder, Sergio-Albio González, Jonas Gwangwa, Michael Hamlyn, Basil Jones, Michael Kahn, Bonjo Keipidile, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Heinz Klug, Adrian Kohler, Mandla Langa, Lobogang Letsatle, Bridgitte Mabandla, Dikobe Ben Martins, Hugh Masekela, Baleka Mbete, Seleba Mdokodi, Gordon Metz, Thamsanqa Mnyele, Chippa Wa Moagi, Thele Moema, Stephen Mogotsi, Lentswe Eric Mokgatle, Nellie Prinz Mokgatle, Bachana Mokwena, Rampholo Molefhe, Dennis Mpale, Kush Mudau, Libero Nyelele, Miles Pelo, Cecil Phahle, Lindiwe Phahle, Livy Phahle, Molefe Pheto, Japie Phiri, Petra Röhr-Rouendaal, Jeanette Schoon, Marius Schoon, Rhona Segale, Philip Segola, Judy Seidman, Mongane Wally Serote, Pethu Serote, Lefifi Tladi, and Timothy Williams. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents:
Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction / Antawan I. Byrd and Felicia Mings -- On the origins of MEDU Art Ensemble / Mongane Wally Serote -- MEDU Art Ensemble's operative and aesthetic montage / Antawan I. Byrd -- Graphics in exile : Gaborone as a site of international activism / Felicia Mings -- Weaponizing art : then and now / Khwezi Gule -- Common sympathies : six asides about resistance art / Ashraf Jamal -- Collecting the posters of MEDU Art Ensemble / Warren Siebrits -- Work by MEDU Art Ensemble -- Members of MEDU Art Ensemble -- Contributors -- Index.
Summary:
Formed in the late 1970s, Medu Art Ensemble forcefully articulated a call to end the apartheid system's racial segregation and violent injustice through posters that combined revolutionary imagery with bold slogans. Advocating for decolonization and majority (nonwhite) rule in South Africa and neighboring countries, Medu members were persecuted by the South African Defence Force and operated in exile across the border in Botswana. This book features nearly all the surviving posters that Medu created between 1979 and 1985. These objects are exceedingly rare, as they were originally smuggled into South Africa and mounted in public places, where they were regularly confiscated or torn down on sight. Offering new insight into the conceptual framework of Medu's working practice, this volume examines the continuing relevance and impact of its poster production.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.