Nommo Award
Nommo Award logo
Awarded forBest speculative fiction work by Africans
Presented byThe African Speculative Fiction Society
First awarded2017
Websitewww.africansfs.com
Nommo Awards Logo designed by Stephen Embleton August 2016

The Nommo Award is a literary award presented by The African Speculative Fiction Society. The award is named after the Nommo. 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.

Winners and short list nominees

Novel

The Novel Award is also known as The Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African.

Year Author Novel Publisher Ref.
2017 Tade Thompson* Rosewater Orbit [2]
A. Igoni Barrett Blackass Graywolf Press [2]
Shadreck Chikoti Azotus, The Kingdom Pan African Publishers [2]
Nikhil Singh Taty Went West Rosarium Publishing [2]
Nick Wood Azanian Bridges NewCon Press [2]
2018 Tochi Onyebuchi* Beasts Made of Night Penguin Young Readers Group [3]
Gavin Chait Our Memory Like Dust Doubleday [3]
Deon Meyer Fever Grove/Atlantic, Inc. [3]
Nnedi Okorafor Akata Warrior Penguin Young Readers Group [3]
Deji Bryce Olokotun After the Flare The Unnamed Press [3]
Masha du Toit The Real CreateSpace Publishing [3]
2019 Akwaeke Emezi* Freshwater Grove Press [4]
Tomi Adeyemi Children of Blood and Bone Henry Holt and Co [4]
Nechama Brodie Knucklebone Pan Macmillan [4]
Imraan Coovadia A Spy in Time Rare Bird Books [4]
Cat Hellisen Empty Monsters Amazon [4]
Masha du Toit The Strange Independently Published [4]
2020 Suyi Davies Okungbowa* David Mogo, Godhunter Abaddon [5][6]
Nerine Dorman Sing Down the Stars Tafelberg [5]
Masande Ntshanga Triangulum Penguin Random House South Africa & Two Dollar Radio [5]
Tochi Onyebuchi War Girls Razorbill [5]
Namwali Serpell The Old Drift Hogarth [5]
Tade Thompson The Rosewater Insurrection Orbit [5]
2021 Akwaeke Emezi* The Death of Vivek Oji Riverhead [7] [8]
Stephen Embleton Soul Searching Guardbridge [7]
Nikhil Singh Club Ded Luna [7]
2022 T.L. Huchu* The Library of the Dead Tor [9] [10]
TJ Benson The Madhouse Penguin South Africa [9]
Namina Forna The Gilded Ones Delacorte/Usborne [9]
Suyi Davies Okungbowa Son of the Storm Orbit US/Orbit UK [9]
Cheryl S. Ntumy They Made Us Blood and Fury Self Published [9]
Tade Thompson Far from the Light of Heaven Orbit US/Orbit UK [9]

Novella

Year Author(s) Novella Publisher Ref.
2017 Nnedi Okorafor* Binti Tor.com Publishing [2]
Mame Bougouma Diene Hell Freezes Over StoryTime [2]
Dilman Dila The Flying Man of Stone StoryTime [2]
Muthi Nhlema Ta O'Reva Freeeditorial.com [2]
Tade Thompson & Nick Wood The Last Pantheon StoryTime [2]
2018 Tade Thompson* The Murders of Molly Southbourne Tor.com Publishing [3]
Sofia Samatar Fallow Small Beer Press [3]
Nnedi Okorafor Binti: Home Tor.com Publishing [3]
2019 Nerine Dorman* The Firebird Amazon [4]
Caldon Mull Neid-Fire Amazon [4]
Nnedi Okorafor Binti: The Night Masquerade Tor.com Publishing [4]
Sofia Samatar Hard Mary Lightspeed [4]
2020 Wole Talabi* Incompleteness Theories Incomplete Solutions [5][6]
Kerstin Hall The Border Keeper Tor.com Publishing [5]
Caldon Mull Weatherman Self-Published [5]
2021 Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki* Ife-Iyoku: The Tale of Imadeyunuagbon Dominion [7] [8]
David A. Atta Guardians: The Awakening Makere [7]
Dilman Dila A Fledgling Abiba Guardbridge [7]
Tochi Onyebuchi Riot Baby Tordotcom [7]
Tlotlo Tsamaase The Silence of the Wilting Skin Pink Narcissus [7]
2022 Nnedi Okorafor* Remote Control Tordotcom [9] [10]
Dilman Dila The Future God of Love Luna [9]
Kola Heyward-Rotimi An Exploration of Nicole Otieno’s Early Filmography (1232-1246) Strange Horizons (9/13/21) [9]
Erhu Kome Not Seeing is a Flower Eraserhead [9]
Nuzo Onoh The Abomination F&SF9 (10/21) [9]

Short Story

Year Author Short Story Publication Ref.
2017 Lesley Nneka Arimah* "Who Will Greet You At Home" [2]
Tendai Huchu* "The Marriage Plot" [2]
Innocent Immaculate Acan "Sundown" [2]
Blaize Kaye "Ndakusuwa" [2]
Wole Talabi "Wednesday's Story" [2]
2018 Wole Talabi* "The Regression Test" [3]
Nerine Dorman "On the Other Side of the Sea" [3]
Sibongile Fisher "A Door Ajar" [3]
Chinelo Onwualu "Read Before Use" [3]
Henrietta Rose-Innes "Snake Story" [3]
2019 Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki* "The Witching Hour" Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Stones [4]
Tiah Marie Beautement "Momento Mori" Omenana Magazine [4]
T. L. Huchu "Njuzu" AfroSFV3 [4]
Blaize Kaye "Brand New Ways (to lose you over and over again)" Omenana [4]
Derek Lubangakene "Origami Angels" Omenana [4]
Biram Mboob "The Luminal Frontier" AfroSFV3 [4]
Cristy Zinn "The Girl Who Stared at Mars" AfroSFV3 [4]
2020 Chikodili Emelumadu* "Sin Eater" Omenana Magazine [5][6]
Ada Nnadi* "Tiny Bravery" Omenana [5][6]
Ivana Akotowaa Ofori "Principles of Balance" Jalada [5]
Suyi Davies Okungbowa "The Haunting of 13 Olúwo Street" Fireside [5]
Deji Bryce Olukotun "Between the Dark and the Dark" Lightspeed [5]
Wole Talabi "When We Dream We Are Our God" Apex [5]
2021 Innocent Chizaram Ilo* "Rat and Finch Are Friends" Strange Horizons (3/2/20) [7] [8]
Tlotlo Tsamaase* "Behind Our Irises" Africanfuturism: An Anthology [7] [8]
Tiah Marie Beautement "The Bend of Water" Omenana (8/30/20) [7]
T. L. Huchu "Corialis" Fiyah (Autumn '19) [7]
Tobi Ogundiran "The Goatkeeper’s Harvest" The Dark (9/20) [7]
2022 ‘Pemi Aguda* "Masquerade Season" Tor.com (3/24/21) [9] [10]
Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpek "O2 Arena" Galaxy's Edge (11/21) [9]
Mbozie Haimbre "Shelter" Disruption [9]
Shingai Njeri Kagunda "And This Is How to Stay Alive" Fantasy (11/20) [9]
Tobi Ogundiran "The Many Lives of an Abiku" Beneath Ceaseless Skies (7/30/20) [9]
Makena Onjerika "The Brother" Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology to the Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings in the Weird, Wild World [9]
Wole Talabi "An Arc of Electric Skin" Asimov's (9-10/21) [9]
Tlotlo Tsamaase "Dreamports" Apex (12/21) [9]

Graphic Novel

Year Artist(s) & Author(s) Graphic Novel Publisher Ref.
2017 Chronic No. 3 Various writers & artists* The Corpse Exhibition [2]
Ibrahim Ganiyu, Chike Newman Nwankwo & Akinwade Ayodeji Akinola June 12 [2]
Xavier Ighorodje & Stanley Obende Avonome [2]
Jide Martin & Toheeb Deen Ipaye Might of Guardian Prime [2]
2018 Kwabena Ofei & Setor Fiadzigbey* Lake of Tears [3]
Wale Awelenje & Jide Martin Guardian Prime Genesis The Comic Republic [3]
Michael Balogun & Adeleye Yusuf Ireti Bidemi The Comic Republic [3]
Tobe Ezeogu & Keith Issac Hero Kakere The Comic Republic [3]
Tobe Ezeogu & Ozo Ezeogu Eru The Comic Republic [3]
Robert S. Malan & John Cockshaw Quest of the Sign of the Shining Beast [3]
2019 Nnedi Okorafor & Leonardo Romero* Shuri Marvel Comics [4]
Marguerite Abouet, Mathieu Sapin, Judith Taboy, & Marie Bédrune Akissi: Tales of Michief Flying Eye Books [4]
Farida Bedwei & Ravi Allotey Karmzah Afrocomix App, Leti Arts [4]
Tobe Max Ezeogu & Ozo Ezeogu Eru The Comic Republic [4]
Cassandra Mark & Tobe Max Ezeogu Tàtàshé The Comic Republic [4]
Loyiso Mkize, Mohale Mashigo, & Clyde Beech Kwezi New Africa Books [4]
Luke Molver Shaka Rising StoryPress Africa [4]
Nnedi Okorafor, André Araújo, Mario Del Pennino, Tana Ford, & Aaron Covington Black Panther: Long Live the King Marvel Comics [4]
Roye Okupe & Chima Kalu Malika Warrior Queen Part Two YouNeek Studios [4]
Austine Osas, Abiodun Awodele, & Yusuf Temitope Under the Sun Pedacomics Ltd [4]
Yvonne Wanyoike, Kendi Mberia, & Salim Busuru Rovik Vibondu Comics, Avandu [4]
2020 Morakinyo Araoye, Steven Akinyemi, & Ogim Ekpezu* Danfo TAG Comics [5][6]
Ssentongo Charles Sanu Elupe Comics [5]
Beserat Debebe & Stanley Obende Hawi Etan Comics [5]
Mika Hirwa Kami Mira Hirwa [5]
Kiprop Kimutai & Salim Busuru Beast from Venus Avandu Vosi [5]
Bill Masuku Captain South Africa Enigma Comix [5]
Bill Masuku Welcome to the Dead World Sam Graphico Anthology [5]
Ziki Nelson & Jason Lamy Nani Kugali Comics [5]
2021 Nana Akosua Hanson & AnimaxFYB* MoonGirls Drama Queens [7] [8]
Murewa Ayodele & Dotun Akande New Men Action Lab – Danger Zone [7]
Mazuba Chimbeza Titan Black Hut [7]
Qintu Collab Meanwhile… MaThoko’s [7]
Anna Mbale & Mwiche Songolo Alex Black Hut [7]
Mwiche Songolo Black Sheep Black Hut [7]
2022 Roye Okupe & Godwin Akpan* Iyanu: Child of Wonder, Volume 2 Dark Horse [9] [10]
Awele Emili The Ijournal AweleEmili.com [9]

The African Speculative Fiction Society

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 58 charter members include writers, editors, artists and publishers.

Members nominate and vote on the Nommo Awards for African Speculative Fiction.[11]

“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

[citation needed]

Established August 15, 2016 with 58 charter members, the ASFS and its Nommo Awards is a body for African science fiction/fantasy professionals.[12][13]

The 2016 charter members

The 58 charter members of 2016.[14][15]

  1. A. Igoni Barrett
  2. Afolabi Muheez Ashiru
  3. Amatesiro Dore
  4. Andrew C. Dakalira
  5. Ayodele Arigbabu
  6. Biram Mboob
  7. Catherine Shepherd
  8. Cat Corona Hellisen
  9. Chad Rossouw
  10. Mazi Chigozie Nwonwu
  11. Chikodili Emelumadu
  12. Chinelo Onwaulu
  13. Clifton Cachuaga
  14. Dave de Burgh
  15. Dayo Ntwari
  16. Denise Kavuma
  17. Diane Awerbuck
  18. Dilman Dila
  19. Ekari Mbvundula
  20. Ellah Wakatama Allfrey
  21. Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso
  22. IfeOluwa Nihinlola
  23. Ivor Hartmann
  24. Jason Mykl Snyman
  25. Jekwu Ozoemene
  26. Joan de la Haye
  27. Joe Machina
  28. John Barigye
  29. Hannah Onoguwe
  30. Kiprop Kumutai
  31. Lauren Beukes
  32. Mame Diene
  33. Awards Subcommittee
  34. Mandisi Nkomo
  35. Masimba Musodza
  36. Margaret Hegottir
  37. Mehul Gohil
  38. Mia Aderne
  39. Moses Kilolo
  40. Muthi Nhlema
  41. Nerine Dorman
  42. Nick Wood
  43. Nikhil Singh
  44. Ntone Edjabe
  45. Oshoke Irene
  46. Pemi Aguda
  47. Rafee Aliyu
  48. Richard Oduor Oduku
  49. Samuel Kolawole
  50. Shadreck Chikoti
  51. Sofia Samatar
  52. Sophie B Alal
  53. Stephen Embleton
  54. Suyi Davies
  55. Tade Thompson
  56. Terh Agbedeh
  57. Tiseki Tich Chilima
  58. Wole Talabi

Logo design

Nommo icon designed by Stephen Embleton 2016

The Nommo Awards logo and ASFS logos were designed in 2016 by Stephen Embleton.[16] 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.[17]

"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."

References

  1. ^ "Announcing the 2019 Nommo Award Winners". 25 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Announcing the 2017 Nommo Award Winners". 16 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Tade Thompson, Tochi Onyebuchi, and More Amongst the Winners of the 2018 NOMMO Awards". 26 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Announcing the 2019 Nommo Award Winners". 25 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "2020 Nommo Awards Shortlist". 15 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e "2020 Nommo Awards Winners". 26 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "2021 Nommo Awards Shortlist". June 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e "2021 Nommo Awards Winners". 17 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "2022 Nommo Awards Shortlist". 17 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d "2022 Nommo Award Winners".
  11. ^ "The African Speculative Fiction Society Announces the Nommo Awards". Tor.com. 2016-09-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  12. ^ "bookshy: Four and a Half Years Later: Science Fiction and Fantasy in African Literature". bookshy. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  13. ^ "Inaugural Nommo Awards". Locus Online. 2016-08-25. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  14. ^ "Press Pack". www.africansfs.com. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  15. ^ "Google Drive: Sign-in". accounts.google.com. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  16. ^ "The African Speculative Fiction Society is here!". Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  17. ^ "Google Drive: Sign-in". accounts.google.com. Retrieved 2022-07-01.


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