Welcome to Culture Odyssey and The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women's first time new technology online experience. The theme of this newsletter explores the use of the evolving digital film technology to proliferate the impact of the Medea Project workshop and performance process on a national and international level. The following online experience documents an historic November 2008 Medea Project residency and production and brings it back home to San Francisco audiences as well as an online global community of supporters and interested parties.

So, hang on, tune in, and experience South Africa's exposure to the Medea Project and the gift of expanding and diversifying their audiences through this "very first time in South African history" Medea Project residency and performance inside their prison complex.

- Medea Project Artistic Director,
Rhodessa Jones
Assisted by Cultural Odyssey Executive Director, Idris Ackamoor

A Brief History (YouTube - click to view)

1 November to 15 November 2008
Website: www.artsexchange.co.za
Email: info@artsexchange.co.za
Media enquiries only: 011 726 6916

International Theatre Exchange with Cultural Odyssey: The Medea Project : Theatre for Incarcerated Women. SA/USA

Diary - November 1, 2008

	Sun City Prison (YouTube - click to view)

South African prisons are a lot like prisons all over the world in many ways, and at the same time they are also different. Johannesburg Correctional Services is a maximum-security prison housing both male and female prisoners. From the outside the prison resembles any maximum-security prison.

Tons of razor wire. High walls and fences. Secure perimeter. Tons of guards. Attack dogs patrolling the grounds. And an abundance of firearms and AK47s carried by guards on the grounds.

One enters the prison by car through a guarded gate. Your credentials are checked and checked again. The car is searched and license numbers taken. Every day we entered there was a different guard, which sometimes required that you repeat the same process over and over even after you have already received clearance from the authorities. Once inside the perimeter of the prison there is still another gate to enter. At this entrance your bags are checked. Then you walk a short walk to another entrance. This time there is a revolving iron grill like gate. There is a red button to push to communicate with the gatekeepers. You enter the turnstile and push another button. After what seems like minutes someone comes on the intercom speaking in Zulu. Fortunately our aide, Thobile, is with us and speaks to the gatekeeper who then allows for one member of our party at a time to swing the turnstile and enter into a connecting yard. Five meters away is another exact copy of the turnstile and the process must be repeated again.

One meter from this turnstile is an oval bell with a ringer. You ring the bell and a guard unlocks the next heavy door and ushers you inside the processing room. This was always one of the hardest and most frustrating entrances. Here your body and bags are searched. All cell phones were locked up. Initially we were given permission to film all activities inside the prison. However, this proved to be a very frustrating situation because of the bureaucracy. It was not until later in the process that complete access to film was finally approved. Finally, we went through more iron and bars to actually enter the women's prison where the inmates were housed.

	Prisons guards with inmate Joyce Mihloti Chauke photo by Idris Ackamoor

All of the guards and gatekeepers were either black or colored South Africans. We got to know many of them and through the process became close and on very friendly terms. One of the first things you notice inside the housing area is that none of the guards are carrying firearms! This was one of the differences I found with the South African female prisons.

Entering into the housing area we are escorted by a guard named Florence who takes us through the dreary corridors.

	Residency begins (YouTube - click to view)

In each corridor there are gates made of bars that need to be opened by a gatekeeper to enter the next corridor. We finally arrive at the classroom where 22 female inmates await. They are predominately black South African women with two white South Africans, and a South African of East Indian ancestry as well as several "colored" South Africans.

The ages of the women are from 17 - about 40 years of age. The Medea Project: Theater For Incarcerated Women residency in South Africa's "Sun City" Prison begins!

The water is rising . . . heavy air
Tears are filling the hold . . . the weight, the heat, the rocking!
The water is boiling . . . heavy air
The chains, metallic taste in her mouth . . . screaming, straining
Glistening in vomit, I am ashamed!
Where is this place?
Bones are scattered everywhere.
Somebody's daughter is crying . . . heavy air!

	Rhodessa Lectures (YouTube - click to view)

I started the first sessions by speaking of the history of The Medea Project: Theatre for Incarcerated Women. I talk of my intentions- insisting on ways for the women to speak of their lives dreams, hopes and fears. I promised that we would have fun as we go deep into the realities of their lives as women in lockdown! I spoke at length about the meaning of our lives as women in a global circle. I constantly returned to how much we were alike versus unlike.

Everyone signed up and agreed to the much-needed commitment needed to work together for the next three weeks.

I ask each woman to dream of her new life outside the prison . . .

Inmate Duduzile I Matlhabadile photo by Bram Lammers

To dream of a new world we would need to go deep into the old one . . .
Our old ways . . . in search of beauty
Believing that beauty of languages, dances, personal stories
Are the tools to fashion a new world!
Gathering together, sharing stories, swimming out into the deep
They are so young, strong, so lovely, so trusting
I find that it is their songs, their mother tongues
A sense of place

		I am the African - by Khayaya Swartbooiv (YouTube - click to view) I AM THE GENERATION OF THE OPPRESSED, THE GENERATION OF POVERTY I AM THE GENERATION OF RIOT, THE GENERATION OF STRUGGLE I AM THE GENERATION OF DEMOCRACY NOW I AM FREE STANDING IN AFRICA I AM THE AFRICAN THIS AFRICAN IS A LEOPARD PROUD WITH IT'S COLORS CAUSE IT'S PROUD WITH ITS NATIONS THIS AFRICA IS THE RAINBOW NATION SO I'M THE RIVER BETWEEN THE AFRICAN MOUNTAIN I'M THE HILLS TO THE VALLEYS OF AFRICA I'M THE WELL TO THE AFRICAN FALLS I'M STRONG AND TOUGH LIKE THE ROCKS TO THE MOUNTAIN CLIFFS I'M BLACK, I'M A COAL OF THE WOODS OF THE TREES FROM THE AFRICAN FORESTS I'M THE AFRICAN! I'M THE AFRICAN! I AM THE AFRICAN!

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID!

It is their dances that keeps us all afloat.
We are swimming in a lake of memory!
Attention must be paid . . . as they attempt to dream
I hear much musing about their families, their mothers
They are dreaming of getting out to help other young people
Attention must be paid . . . to our own bodies, needs, back to our dream-
Diving down, I return with a mirror of re-creation:
What do we need to know about each other to begin this voyage back to ourselves
Back to a time before life hurt?

ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME
- BY JABU GWALA

I know myself as a Christian child . . . humble person. I'm always cool. I'm friendly to everybody. I don't judge people. I'm always smiling. Actually, I like to share what I have. At the same time I'm a very sensitive person. It's like if you tell me something sad or I watch news on the TV, I see something or they kill each other, I end up crying. I always tell myself that everything in life is possible if I have balance. I'm always telling myself that imagination is the beginning of creation. I imagine what I desire and I will do whatever I have imagined about. I've got high principles and I am determined to live up to that because many pass unnoticed in the rush of life. I live a purpose driven life, and I believe I'm here for a purpose. If you are really interested in knowing me better, the results are so amazing! I believe in choosing my thoughts, as choosing the direction of my life. I have a lot of respect for my country, in everything it has to achieve.

What keeps me going? My strong personality. And I possess qualities that impact vitality and radiance. And I am the only one." - JABU GWALA

(YouTube - click to view)

The air is electric as we peruse their words! There is a generosity of spirit! They are truly curious about each other. They are
open . . . I praise them for their efforts. I remind them that to go in search of one's self is the true key to seeing the world different. I stressed that god is good. I want more. Let's find god in ourselves . . .

HOW DO I HONOR MYSELF?
- BY THANDEKA MKHWANAZI

I honor myself by motivating myself and keeping myself happy
I honor myself by having self-respect so that I will also be able to have respect for others
By being true to myself
I honor myself by doing the best I can for myself (Important decision)
Encouraging myself
I honor myself by being confident regardless of the situation

I wake up in the morning and meditate on a few lines of scripture, and go to the mirror. I talk to my reflection and I appreciate every one of my features, especially my boobs. I used to call them "the girls" now they've changed to " hip no howzies' for hypnotising. Then I bless myself with 30 minutes of exercise.

HOW DO I HONOR MYSELF?
- BY MIHLOTI JOYCE CHAUKE

Placing myself first within me and satisfying my feelings is a big honor to me. Why, is because in reality you cannot satisfy a human being. Therefore I need to make myself happy before someone else. Not forgetting the upstairs man because he is my creator. I'm who I am because of him.

Seeing someone getting help in terms of medication and counseling is a great honor. The field that I'm working in is very sensitive, which is HIV/ AIDS. It needs perseverance and understanding. By doing so, gives me a perpetual honor, because I hate persecution.

HOW DO I HONOR MYSELF?
- BY NELISWA MOTSHELE

I honor myself by being humble and patient! Although I have done mistakes in my past I still have dreams and visions that will come to life in the future! I'm strong and never give up in life. I go on even when I see no lightness anymore. I honor myself cause I'm beautiful and special but most of all it's all because I'm a strong African young woman!

THE YARD: Introducing The Art of Fabulousity!

	Walking to the Yard (YouTube - click to view)

The writing exercises are a success! This is a group that enjoys writing! They welcome self-expression. Once, I am sure the autobiography will live, we head for the yard.

This prison is a catacomb with large spaces situated internally to provide fresh air and physical exercise.

In the sunlight we began moving around this ancient courtyard changing directions, moving backwards gradually adding jumps with sound. I stop at intervals to speak about our relationships to our body, our breath: extending out thru the fingertips to experience a full

Fabulous & Fit (YouTube - click to view)

extension of the arm. The beauty of strength and resilence. I remind them of the much needed physical power inherent in exercise. We can do this! Moving into balances- building human sculptures, flowing into supporting each other. I recant my basic approach to performance: We are fabulous! We are fabulous! We are truly fabulous!

	Stomp, Clap, Sing (YouTube - click to view)

They are floating over the concrete!

Idris takes them thru rhythmic explorations- stepping, stomping, clapping ,singing in groups! It is magical to watch these African women work their physical musicality! The beautiful feminine African body, organically bring its own intelligence. I am exalted as I experience this cadence!

Moving Poem (YouTube - click to view)

A performance is possible! We have some language, we are exploring movement and they are all so generous in sharing the joy of sound! In the sunlight, we are ready to return to our rummage for truth! They are stepping and speaking together! They are floating over the concrete!

My intention is to create a moving poem:

I hear, I need, I want, I will, I am! : They gesture intoning hopes, dreams, longing with pure desire! They are the South African choir! They are the Greek chorus as woman after woman move into soloing their personal visions of a new world!

"I say to women. Look in the mirror everyday of your life and decide what's beautiful about your body anyhow . . . anyway. Cause we get like, "Oh God, I'm too fat . . . I used to be really skinny . . . I used to be . . ." What are you now? What can you embrace now about yourself?"

"How did you save your own life? That's you at your best. It's about your core strength."

"I want you to get down to YOU! We have a hard time
serving . . . admiring . . taking care of ourselves. It's either the family, it's God, and it's never ourselves. And even God wants us to know grace and grow strong. But as women we always go somewhere else with it. Create a portrait of yourself!"

"I want you to look deep and long at what you do best. We forget about that part of us. We take it inside.

We eat too much.
We sex too much.
We drug too much.
We put ourselves at risk
We put ourselves in harms way
We look for love in all the wrong places

You grow up with somebody saying
Ooo baby you so fine
Ooo baby you so fine
Carry this bag for me . . .
Oooo, baby, you so fine
Cash this check for me
Oooo, baby, you so fine
You do the time
I'm gonna be waiting for you . . .

And we do it
We blindly do it!
We sacrifice our children . . . our families . . . and our dreams

Take this stuff to heart. Theater saved my life. You deserve a great life!!

• August 4 - 8, 2009 · Cultural Odyssey's New Performance in Black Theatre at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina featuring: Music for One Hand Clapping featuring Idris Ackamoor & Frederick Harris, The Unsung Diva featuring Angela Dean Baham, The Love Project featuring Rhodessa Jones & Idris Ackamoor, and The Breach (a work-in-progress) with Joanna Haigood, Rhodessa Jones, and Idris Ackamoor.