Contributors

‘We drove for hours in the desert, listening to the same five Malian blues songs for days’, says Ferdinando Cotugno, who tells the story of his exploration across Western Sahara, one of the last uncharted non-states in the world (page 34). ‘It was in what they call the Free Zone, locked in by land mines and a thousand-mile long wall, that I understood how strong is the Saharawi desire for independence.’

‘There is nothing I love more than seeing and appreciating something anew,’ says Harriet Constable. ‘This month, that was the extraordinary world of fungi!’ ( page 28). Though only six per cent of fungi species have been discovered they are already being used in ground-breaking ways. From soil health, to easing depression, these remarkable organisms are having their day.

‘Mosul is a place that can simultaneously overwhelm you with the scale of its destruction, impress you with the richness of its history and charm you with the generosity of its people,’ says Hadani Ditmars, who reports on the gradual rebuilding of the city ( page 18). ‘I’ll never forget the lady who emerged from the ruins to offer me coffee and a sweet welcome to her city.’