In case you didn’t know, yesterday was International Friendship Day. So to celebrate that and Black female friendships, we have devoted this week’s stories on Black Ballad to celebrating the nuances that exist within our sisterhoods.

Over the years, Black Ballad writers (including myself) have written about our sisterhoods and how they create safe, emotionally fulfilling and mentally stimulating spaces where we don’t censor ourselves. And I’ve said over and over again, seeing these friendships blossom in real life at events (I personally can’t wait to have Brunch with the Bristol, Brighton and Manchester babes!) is truly an honour. So when we discussed this newsletter being dedicated to female friendships, I did indeed wonder what was left to be said.