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In her essay titled The White Album, Joanne Didion says: ‘‘We tell stories in order to live.’’ This has always been true for storytellers. Even so, in 2020, the statement seems to have taken on a whole new meaning.

The pain of loss, the uncertainty of day to day existence and the upsetting occurrences across the globe have caused many to retreat into their private worlds. Instead of telling stories, some of us have found ourselves reaching deep into our bookshelves to dig up stories that will help us navigate the world. The stories we hope to unearth are those that move and delight us.

The writers in this issue have taken the decision to shape the dialogue of the day by continuing to write.

In doing so, these writers have opened new doors to all sorts of conversations about everyday living. They have also given us stories that make us gasp delightedly, cry and laugh. Such was my experience reading them. Through the stories, I was reminded of our shared humanity. I was also prompted to

remember our complexities as humans. In the end, I found myself gaining fresh perspectives.

I hope that you too, dear reader, shall find and inhabit new worlds as you read this issue. That you too shall gain new perspectives and appreciate the role of storytelling as a creative component of the human experience.

Foreword by Gloria Mwaniga