While Talal Al-Nayer's art provides a running diversion through our pages, VIctor Ehikhamenor's icon provides the centrepiece for our cover.

Finally, in all the flux we do not lose sight of the fact that for many of our readers who are used to reading not just a dozen but all our stories for free, this issue will come with some disappointment. Without a doubt, that disappointment is shared by our writers - and ourselves. Yet, in the fourth year of , we must be faithful to our founding determination to eventually remunerate our contributors. Our writers have kept the faith and so must we. This paywall represents a feeling forward towards this end. So we do count on your support, even as we remain open to your suggestions as to how to better serve you.

Chuma Nwokolo,
Publisher & Editor. .

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