These are stories of magical telling and near magical situations: Sheriff's story 'Ndemu, the Crazy wife of Kuluma', is about the use of stories to sow supernatural anxieties amongst people; Thulla's 'Falang' tells of a lover returning from the dead to torment the living; and Mansaray's 'A Pentacle For Jebbeh' is steeped in narrations about charms, witchcraft, and the fight against evil. MG Sesay's 'Amina and the Armed Robber's Search for Miss Habiba' tells of the magical reality of love; Farouk Sesay's 'Childbride' narrates the ordeal of a girl whose dreams of being a judge are threatened by ancient practices that are much alive in the land; and Koroma's 'The Golden Crown of Ordu' is an account of the magical origins of a man who would become a Paramount Chief. The stories all have a surreal feel in their telling, overflowing with themes as diverse as love, career aspirations, bravery, and prayers and actions for the end to be beautiful and much more. ...

THE EDITORS

Mohamed Gibril Sesay grew up in Crojimmy, Eastern Freetown, and was educated at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, where he now teaches Sociology. His most recent non-fiction book published by SLWS is Civic Society in Africa: Models, History and Explosions of Civic Actions in Sierra Leone. Mohamed is also a poet and novelist.

Elizabeth L.A. Kamara grew up in the east end of Freetown and attended the Holy Trinity Primary School and Annie Walsh Memorial School in Freetown. She is an educator, writer and poet. Kamara is the Former Head of English Unit, Department of Language Studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone and lecturer of Literature in English in the aforementioned department. She has published three collections of poems and some of her poems have been translated into Spanish and Greek.

Njanguma S. Momodu was Born at Bumii (Tongo - Air fields) in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone - West Africa. He holds a B.A. honours degree from the University of Westminster and a post-graduate degree from the Institute of Education - University of London. His publications include: a collection of fables and myths for children, 'The five Fingers', his gothic collection of short stories, 'Daughter of Albino' and 'Southern Stories and Songs'.