''Wietie'' was first published in 1980 by Christopher van Wyk and Fhazel Johennesse. The magazine provided a literary platform for the prevailing philosophy of

Black Consciousness The Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) was a grassroots anti-Apartheid Activism, activist movement that emerged in South Africa in the mid-1960s out of the power vacuum, political vacuum created by the jailing and banning of the African Nationa ...

. It gave voice to a new generation of

South African __NOTOC__ South African may relate to: * The nation of South Africa * South African Airways * South African English * South African people * Languages of South Africa * Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the Afric ...

writers who saw their work not only as a critique on oppressive systems, but – like Black Power – as a weapon of transformation.

Content and themes

''Wietie'' contained short stories, poems and

artwork A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art or art object is an artistic creation of aesthetic value. Except for "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature ...

. The magazine employed a language that was both literary and defiant. Openly declaring its commitment to the 'communication of revolutionary writing,' while also providing a space to explore the realities of everyday life under apartheid, it published fiction, poetry and prose that challenged both the political, cultural and racial status. Combining wit and humour with openly political writing, ''Wietie'' did not survive long under the

Apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

administration.

Publishing

After the first issue was picked up by the police in February 1980, the censors banned it, first on the grounds of obscenity (specifically, they objected to the use of the word 'fuck' in the short story 'Aunt Molly and the Girls'), then on the grounds of sedition. After ''Wietie'' was forced to close down, Christopher van Wyk returned to ''

Staffrider ''Staffrider'' was a South African literary magazine that was published between 1978 and 1996. History and profile ''Staffrider'' was first published in March 1978. Its founder was Mike Kirkwood. The magazine took its name from slang for people h ...

'' to become chief editor.

References

{{dual, sourcepath=http://www.chimurengalibrary.co.za/periodicals.php?id=29, source=Chimurenga library, sourcearticle=Wietie, date=15:27, 29 September 2009 * Michael Chapman (ed), Soweto poetry, McGraw-Hill, Johannesburg; New York, 1982. * Peter D. McDonald, The Literature Police: Apartheid Censorship and its Cultural Consequences, Oxford University Press, 2009 1980 establishments in South Africa 1980 disestablishments in South Africa African and Black nationalism in Africa Defunct literary magazines Defunct political magazines Defunct magazines published in South Africa Magazines established in 1980 Magazines disestablished in 1980