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Nommo Awards

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nommo Awards
Awarded forBest speculative fiction work by Africans
Presented byThe African Speculative Fiction Society
First award2017
Websitewww.africansfs.com

The Nommo Awards are literary awards presented by The African Speculative Fiction Society. The awards recognize works of speculative fiction by Africans, defined as "science fiction, fantasy, stories of magic and traditional belief, alternative histories, horror and strange stuff that might not fit in anywhere else."[1]

The Nommo Awards have four categories: Best Novel, Novella, Short Story, and Graphic Novel. They are named after the Nommo, ancestral spirits from Dogon cosmology who take a variety of forms, including appearing on land as fish, walking on their tails.

The African Speculative Fiction Society

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The African Speculative Fiction Society Logo designed by Stephen Embleton August 2016

The African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS) promotes science fiction and fantasy by Africans. Its members include writers, editors, artists and publishers. Established August 15, 2016 with 58 charter members, the ASFS and its Nommo Awards is a body for African science fiction/fantasy professionals.[2][3]

Members nominate and vote on the Nommo Awards for African Speculative Fiction.[4]

“The ASFS will provide a place where writers, readers, and scholars can come together to find information, connect with each other, and act as watchdogs for their collective interests.” Chinelo Onwualu, co-founder of Omenana[5]

Logo design

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The Nommo Awards logo and ASFS logos were designed in 2016 by Stephen Embleton.[6] The logo is an image of the Nommo in Dogon cosmology, twins who on land can take the form of fish walking on their tails.[7]

"The Nommo are mythological ancestral spirits (sometimes referred to as deities) worshipped by the Dogon people of Mali. The word Nommos is derived from a Dogon word meaning "to make one drink." The Nommos are usually described as amphibious, hermaphroditic, fish-like creatures. Folk art depictions of the Nommos show creatures with humanoid upper torsos, legs/feet, and a fish-like lower torso and tail. The Nommos are also referred to as “Masters of the Water”, “the Monitors”, and "the Teachers”. Nommo can be a proper name of an individual, or can refer to the group of spirits as a whole. For purposes of this article “Nommo” refers to a specific individual and “Nommos” is used to reference the group of beings."

Winners and short list nominees

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Novel

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The Novel Award is also known as The Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African. It is named for and sponsored by Tom Ilube.[8]

Year Author Novel Publisher Ref.
2017 Tade Thompson*RosewaterOrbit [9]
A. Igoni BarrettBlackassGraywolf Press [9]
Shadreck ChikotiAzotus, The KingdomPan African Publishers [9]
Nikhil SinghTaty Went WestRosarium Publishing [9]
Nick WoodAzanian BridgesNewCon Press [9]
2018 Tochi Onyebuchi*Beasts Made of NightPenguin Young Readers Group [10]
Gavin ChaitOur Memory Like DustDoubleday [10]
Deon MeyerFeverGrove/Atlantic, Inc. [10]
Nnedi OkoraforAkata WarriorPenguin Young Readers Group [10]
Deji Bryce OlokotunAfter the FlareThe Unnamed Press [10]
Masha du ToitThe RealCreateSpace Publishing [10]
2019 Akwaeke Emezi*FreshwaterGrove Press [11]
Tomi AdeyemiChildren of Blood and BoneHenry Holt and Co [11]
Nechama BrodieKnucklebonePan Macmillan [11]
Imraan CoovadiaA Spy in TimeRare Bird Books [11]
Cat HellisenEmpty MonstersAmazon [11]
Masha du ToitThe StrangeIndependently Published [11]
2020 Suyi Davies Okungbowa*David Mogo, GodhunterAbaddon [12][13]
Nerine DormanSing Down the StarsTafelberg [12]
Masande NtshangaTriangulumPenguin Random House South Africa & Two Dollar Radio [12]
Tochi OnyebuchiWar GirlsRazorbill [12]
Namwali SerpellThe Old DriftHogarth [12]
Tade ThompsonThe Rosewater InsurrectionOrbit [12]
2021 Akwaeke Emezi*The Death of Vivek OjiRiverhead [14][15]
Stephen EmbletonSoul SearchingGuardbridge [14]
Nikhil SinghClub DedLuna [14]
2022 T.L. Huchu*The Library of the DeadTor [16][17]
T. J. BensonThe MadhousePenguin South Africa [16]
Namina FornaThe Gilded OnesDelacorte/Usborne [16]
Suyi Davies OkungbowaSon of the StormOrbit US/Orbit UK [16]
Cheryl S. NtumyThey Made Us Blood and FurySelf Published [16]
Tade ThompsonFar from the Light of HeavenOrbit US/Orbit UK [16]
2024[a] Wole Talabi*Shigidi and the Brass Head of ObalufonDAW [18][19]
Stephen EmbletonBones and RunesAbibiman Publishing [18]
Chikodili EmelumaduDazzlingWildfire [18]
Suyi Davies OkungbowaWarrior of the WindOrbit [18]
Ukamaka OlisakweDon't Answer When They Call Your NameGriots Lounge [18]
Eloghosa OsundeVagabonds!Riverhead [18]
2025 Tlotlo Tsamaase* Womb City Kensington [20][21]
Erhu Kome The Smoke That Thunders Norton Young Readers [20]
Nikhil Singh Dakini Atoll Luna Press Publishing [20]
Umar Abubakar Sidi The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus Masobe [20]
2026 Marvellous Michael Anson Firstborn of the Sun [22]
Modupe H. Ayinde A Song of Legends Lost [22]
Nkereuwem Albert The Bone River [22]
Nnedi Okorafor Death of the Author [22]
Paul Olisaeloka Anozie Black Navel [22]
T.L. Huchu Secrets of the First School [22]

Novella

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Year Author(s) Novella Publisher Ref.
2017 Nnedi Okorafor*BintiTor.com Publishing [9]
Mame Bougouma DieneHell Freezes OverStoryTime [9]
Dilman DilaThe Flying Man of StoneStoryTime [9]
Muthi NhlemaTa O'RevaFreeeditorial.com [9]
Tade Thompson & Nick WoodThe Last PantheonStoryTime [9]
2018 Tade Thompson*The Murders of Molly SouthbourneTor.com Publishing [10]
Sofia SamatarFallowSmall Beer Press [10]
Nnedi OkoraforBinti: HomeTor.com Publishing [10]
2019 Nerine Dorman*The FirebirdAmazon [11]
Caldon MullNeid-FireAmazon [11]
Nnedi OkoraforBinti: The Night MasqueradeTor.com Publishing [11]
Sofia SamatarHard MaryLightspeed [11]
2020 Wole Talabi*Incompleteness TheoriesIncomplete Solutions [12][13]
Kerstin HallThe Border KeeperTor.com Publishing [12]
Caldon MullWeathermanSelf-Published [12]
2021 Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki*Ife-Iyoku: The Tale of ImadeyunuagbonDominion [14][15]
David A. AttaGuardians: The AwakeningMakere [14]
Dilman DilaA Fledgling AbibaGuardbridge [14]
Tochi OnyebuchiRiot BabyTordotcom [14]
Tlotlo TsamaaseThe Silence of the Wilting SkinPink Narcissus [14]
2022 Nnedi Okorafor*Remote ControlTordotcom [16][17]
Dilman DilaThe Future God of LoveLuna [16]
Kola Heyward-RotimiAn Exploration of Nicole Otieno’s Early Filmography (1232-1246)Strange Horizons (9/13/21) [16]
Erhu KomeNot Seeing is a FlowerEraserhead [16]
Nuzo OnohThe AbominationF&SF9 (10/21) [16]
2024[a] Stephen Embleton*Undulation [18][19]
Eugen BaconBroken ParadiseLuna Press [18]
Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki & Joshua Uchenna OmengaLand of the Awaiting Birth [18]
Moses Ose UtomiThe Lies of the AjungoTordotcom [18]
2025 Suyi Davies Okungbowa* Lost Ark Dreaming Tor Publishing Group [21][20]
Ivana Akotowaa Ofori The Year of Return Android Press [20]
Tobi Ogundiran In the Shadow of the Fall Titan Books [20]
Sofia Samatar The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain Tordotcom [20]
2026 Moses Ose Utomi The Memory of the Ogisi [22]
Nnedi Okorafor One Way Witch [22]
Tobi Ogundiran At the Fount of Creation [22]

Short Story

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Year Author Short Story Publication Ref.
2017 Lesley Nneka Arimah*"Who Will Greet You At Home" [9]
Tendai Huchu*"The Marriage Plot" [9]
Innocent Immaculate Acan"Sundown" [9]
Blaize Kaye"Ndakusuwa" [9]
Wole Talabi"Wednesday's Story" [9]
2018 Wole Talabi*"The Regression Test" [10]
Nerine Dorman"On the Other Side of the Sea" [10]
Sibongile Fisher"A Door Ajar" [10]
Chinelo Onwualu"Read Before Use" [10]
Henrietta Rose-Innes"Snake Story" [10]
2019 Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki*"The Witching Hour"Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Stones [11]
Tiah Marie Beautement"Momento Mori"Omenana Magazine [11]
Tendai Huchu"Njuzu"AfroSFV3 [11]
Blaize Kaye"Brand New Ways (to lose you over and over again)"Omenana [11]
Derek Lubangakene"Origami Angels"Omenana [11]
Biram Mboob"The Luminal Frontier"AfroSFV3 [11]
Cristy Zinn"The Girl Who Stared at Mars"AfroSFV3 [11]
2020 Chikodili Emelumadu*"Sin Eater"Omenana Magazine [12][13]
Ada Nnadi*"Tiny Bravery"Omenana [12][13]
Ivana Akotowaa Ofori"Principles of Balance"Jalada [12]
Suyi Davies Okungbowa"The Haunting of 13 Olúwo Street"Fireside [12]
Deji Bryce Olukotun"Between the Dark and the Dark"Lightspeed [12]
Wole Talabi"When We Dream We Are Our God"Apex [12]
2021 Innocent Chizaram Ilo*"Rat and Finch Are Friends"Strange Horizons (3/2/20) [14][15]
Tlotlo Tsamaase*"Behind Our Irises"Africanfuturism: An Anthology [14][15]
Tiah Marie Beautement"The Bend of Water"Omenana (8/30/20) [14]
Tendai Huchu"Corialis"Fiyah (Autumn '19) [14]
Tobi Ogundiran"The Goatkeeper’s Harvest"The Dark (9/20) [14]
2022 Pemi Aguda* "Masquerade Season" Tor.com (3/24/21) [16][17]
Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpek "O2 Arena" Galaxy's Edge (11/21) [16]
Mbozie Haimbre "Shelter" Disruption [16]
Shingai Njeri Kagunda "And This Is How to Stay Alive" Fantasy (11/20) [16]
Tobi Ogundiran "The Many Lives of an Abiku" Beneath Ceaseless Skies (7/30/20) [16]
Makena Onjerika "The Brother" Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World [16]
Wole Talabi "An Arc of Electric Skin" Asimov's (9-10/21) [16]
Tlotlo Tsamaase "Dreamports" Apex (12/21) [16]
2024 Gabrielle Emem Harry* "A Name is a Plea and a Prophecy" Strange Horizons, 2023 [18][19]
Moustapha Mbacké Diop "Blackwater Children" Haven Speculative Fiction, 2022 [18]
Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki "Destiny Delayed" Asimov's Science Fiction, 2022 [18]
Victor Forna "Kɛrozin Lamp Kurfi" Apex Magazine, 2023 [18]
Somoto Iheuze "Like Stars Daring to Shine" Fireside Fiction 2022 and Escape Pod 2023 [18]
Solomon Uhiara "Loom" Dark Matter Magazine, 2022 [18]
Naomi Eselojor "My Mother's Love" Hexagon, 2022 [18]
Chinaza Eziaghighala "Osimiri" British Science Fiction Association’s Fission 2 Vol 1 Anthology. [18]
Cheryl S. Ntumy "The Way of Baa'gh" Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology, Android Press, 2023 [18]
2025 Chisom Umeh* "From Across Time" Clarkesworld [21][20]
Plangdi Neple "Bodies of Sand and Blood" Cast of Wonders [20]
Mwenya Chikwa "The Future Ancients" WTBAP [20]
Damilola Oyedotun "Warning Notes from an Annihilator Machine" Lightspeed [20]
2026 Adelehin Ijasan "A Heap of Petrified Gods" [22]
Kevin Rigathi "If Memory Serves" [20]
Plangdi Neple "Full, Empty Houses" [20]
Moustapha Mbacké Diop "Apostasy in Fruit" [20]
Somto Ihezue "We Begin Where Infinity Ends " [20]
T.L. Huchu "The Cancellation of Michael Z" [20]

Graphic Novel

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Year Artist(s) & Author(s) Graphic Novel Publisher Ref.
2017 Chronic No. 3 Various writers & artists*The Corpse Exhibition [9]
Ibrahim Ganiyu, Chike Newman Nwankwo & Akinwade Ayodeji AkinolaJune 12 [9]
Xavier Ighorodje & Stanley ObendeAvonome [9]
Jide Martin & Toheeb Deen IpayeMight of Guardian Prime [9]
2018 Kwabena Ofei & Setor Fiadzigbey*Lake of Tears [10]
Wale Awelenje & Jide MartinGuardian Prime GenesisThe Comic Republic [10]
Michael Balogun & Adeleye YusufIreti BidemiThe Comic Republic [10]
Tobe Ezeogu & Keith IssacHero KakereThe Comic Republic [10]
Tobe Ezeogu & Ozo EzeoguEruThe Comic Republic [10]
Robert S. Malan & John CockshawQuest of the Sign of the Shining Beast [10]
2019 Nnedi Okorafor & Leonardo Romero*ShuriMarvel Comics [11]
Marguerite Abouet, Mathieu Sapin, Judith Taboy, & Marie BédruneAkissi: Tales of MichiefFlying Eye Books [11]
Farida Bedwei & Ravi AlloteyKarmzahAfrocomix App, Leti Arts [11]
Tobe Max Ezeogu & Ozo EzeoguEruThe Comic Republic [11]
Cassandra Mark & Tobe Max EzeoguTàtàshéThe Comic Republic [11]
Loyiso Mkize, Mohale Mashigo, & Clyde BeechKweziNew Africa Books [11]
Luke MolverShaka RisingStoryPress Africa [11]
Nnedi Okorafor, André Araújo, Mario Del Pennino, Tana Ford, & Aaron CovingtonBlack Panther: Long Live the KingMarvel Comics [11]
Roye Okupe & Chima KaluMalika Warrior Queen Part TwoYouNeek Studios [11]
Austine Osas, Abiodun Awodele, & Yusuf TemitopeUnder the SunPedacomics Ltd [11]
Yvonne Wanyoike, Kendi Mberia, & Salim BusuruRovikVibondu Comics, Avandu [11]
2020 Morakinyo Araoye, Steven Akinyemi, & Ogim Ekpezu*DanfoTAG Comics [12][13]
Ssentongo CharlesSanuElupe Comics [12]
Beserat Debebe & Stanley ObendeHawiEtan Comics [12]
Mika HirwaKamiMira Hirwa [12]
Kiprop Kimutai & Salim BusuruBeast from VenusAvandu Vosi [12]
Bill MasukuCaptain South AfricaEnigma Comix [12]
Bill MasukuWelcome to the Dead WorldSam Graphico Anthology [12]
Ziki Nelson & Jason LamyNaniKugali Comics [12]
2021 Nana Akosua Hanson & AnimaxFYB*MoonGirlsDrama Queens [14][15]
Murewa Ayodele & Dotun AkandeNew MenAction Lab – Danger Zone [14]
Mazuba ChimbezaTitanBlack Hut [14]
Qintu CollabMeanwhile…MaThoko’s [14]
Anna Mbale & Mwiche SongoloAlexBlack Hut [14]
Mwiche SongoloBlack SheepBlack Hut [14]
2022 Roye Okupe & Godwin Akpan*Iyanu: Child of Wonder, Volume 2Dark Horse [16][17]
Awele EmiliThe IjournalAweleEmili.com [16]
2024 Mamode Ogbewele and Chigozie Amadi*Grimm's AssistantMode Comics, 2023 [18][19]
Daniël HugoDie StrandloperDream Press & Daniël Hugo, 2022 [18]
Roye Okupe and Sunkanmi AkinboyeWindMaker volume 1Dark Horse Comics, 2022 [18]
2025 John Uche and Francis Goodluck* Celestial Eyes Vol. 1 The Machine Publishing [21][20]
Dotun Akande and Murewa Ayodele Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods Oni Press [20]
Murewa Ayodele, Mamode Ogbewele, Dotun Akande, and Samuel Iwunze You Have Ten Years Collectible Comics [20]
2026 Gerald Vreden and Hakeem Rafai Rise of The Mafu #1: The Awakening [22]
Juni Ba The Fables of Erlking Wood [22]
John Uche and Francis Goodluck Celestial Eyes Vol. 2: The Second Cycle [22]
John Uche and Stone Otor, Francis Goodluck, Lord Blue, Jeremiah Abah & Gabriel Onche Worlds: A One-shot Anthology [22]

Notes

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  1. 1 2 Because no awards were presented in 2023, works published in 2022 and 2023 are both eligible for the 2024 award

References

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  1. ↑ "Announcing the 2019 Nommo Awards Winners". 25 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "bookshy: Four and a Half Years Later: Science Fiction and Fantasy in African Literature". bookshy. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  3. ↑ "Inaugural Nommo Awards". Locus Online. 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  4. ↑ "The African Speculative Fiction Society Announces the Nommo Awards". Tor.com. 2016-09-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  5. ↑ "The African Speculative Fiction Society Announces the Nommo Awards". Tor.com. 2016-09-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  6. ↑ "The African Speculative Fiction Society is here!". 21 August 2016. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  7. ↑ "Google Drive: Sign-in". accounts.google.com. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  8. ↑ "Glasgow 2024 Programme Guide". www.guide.glasgow2024.org. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Announcing the 2017 Nommo Award Winners". Reactor. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 21 Aug 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Tade Thompson, Tochi Onyebuchi, and More Amongst the Winners of the 2018 NOMMO Awards". 26 October 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 "Announcing the 2019 Nommo Award Winners". 25 October 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "2020 Nommo Awards Shortlist". 15 May 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "2020 Nommo Awards Winners". 26 October 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "2021 Nommo Awards Shortlist". June 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "2021 Nommo Awards Winners". 17 December 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "2022 Nommo Awards Shortlist". 17 May 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "2022 Nommo Award Winners".
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "2024 Nommo Awards Shortlist". Locus. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "2024 Nommo Awards Winners". 10 August 2024.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "2025 Ilube Award for Best Novel Finalists". Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "2025 Nommo Award Winners announced at the Aké Arts and Book Festival in Lagos". Nov 28, 2025. Retrieved Nov 28, 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "2026 Nommo Awards Finalists". Retrieved August 29, 2026.


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