We are at the crossroads. Democracy and the humanities are under attack. Few of us are making the necessary connections. This special volume on the connections between the Humanities and Democracy is a necessary and urgent intervention on the issues at play. The authors, from various Humanities disciplines have brought to the fore various issues affecting our ‘democracies’ in Africa. A task that can only be accomplished meaningfully when viewing is done through the Humanities lens. The idea of repairing the public space through building trust requires re-centering the Humanities in nation building projects. There is need for renewed vigor in making sure that we tell our stories (past and present) through history, using different forms of art including satire (works of fiction, drama, poetry etc.). The democracy we envision depends on a thriving Humanities.