The African Speculative Fiction Society has announced the longlist for the 2021 Nommo Awards.
The longlist is spread across four categories: Best Novel, Best Novella, Best Short Story and Best Graphic Novel. The long list and shortlist are drawn based on nominations by members of the African Speculative Fiction Society. A member can nominate up to five works in each category. The 2021 awards considered works of speculative fiction and comics by African writers published between January 1, 2019 – December 31 2020.
This year, the prize organizers went further to list works nominated by members that are not eligible but are still noteworthy. The publishers are listed as well.
The longlist is led by big names in the industry, from Jennifer Makumbi to Abi Dare. We are particularly proud to see Mazi Nwonwu’s short story “Rainmaker” which was published in Brittle Paper’s Africanfuturism: An Anthology. A handful of the novels on the list have equally were featured in Brittle Paper’s 50 Notable African Books of 2020. The shortlist will be announced end of May. Voting for the winners of the Awards will follow.
2021 NOVEL LONG LIST
- The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
- The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
- Freedom Artist by Ben Okri
- King of the Hollow Dark by Cat Hellisen
- Claiming T-Mo by Eugen Bacon
- The Down Days by Ilze Hugo
- The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
- Afterland by Lauren Beukes
- The Perfect Nine by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
- Water Must Fall by Nick Wood
- Club Ded by Nikhil Singh
- Soul Searching by Stephen Embleton
- The Rosewater Redemption by Tade Thompson
- Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi
- A Trial of Sparks and Kindling by Yolande Horak
2021 NOVELLA LONG LIST
- Ferryman by Caldon Mull
- Convergence in Chorus Architecture by Dare Segun Falowo
- A Fledgling Abiba by Dilman Dila
- Ife-Ikyoku: The Tale of Imadeyunuagbon by Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald
- Ivory’s Story by Eugen Bacon
- Ungirls by Lauren Beukes
- The Satellite Charmer by Mame Bougouma Diene
- The Kigango Oracle by Moraa Gitaa
- The Silence of the Wilting Skin by Tlotlo Tsamaase
- Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
2021 SHORT STORY LONG LIST
- “The Not-So-Secret Lives of Nigerian Politicians” by Adelehin Ijasan
- “That Which Smells Bad” by Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga
- “The Game” by Alvin Kathembe
- “What the Dead Man Said” by Chinelo Onwualu
- “A Love Song for Herkinal as composed by Ashkernas amid the ruins of New Haven” by Chinelo Onwualu
- “The Chronical of Anaoma” by Chinwe Marycynthia Okafor
- “Space Bakide Ride” by Colin Cloud Dance
- “Ngozi Ugegbe Nwa” by Dare Segun Falowo
- “Fort Kwame” by Derek Lubangakene
- “The Cult of Reminiscence” by Derek Lubangakene
- “Red_Bati” by Dilman Dila
- “Yat Madit” by Dilman Dila
- “A Visit in Whitechapel” by Eugen Bacon
- “The One Who Sees” by Eugen Bacon
- “The Road to Woop Woop” by Eugen Bacon
- “Still She Visits” by Eugen Bacon
- “Rat and Finch are Friends” by Innocent Chizaram Ilo
- “The Red Earth” by John Barigye
- “Lekki Lekki” by Mame Bougouma Diene
- “Do Androids Dream of Capitalism and Slavery” by Mandisi Nkomo
- “Rainmaker” by Mazi Nwonwu
- “A Curse at Midnight” by Moustapha Mbacké Diop
- “Things Boys Do” by ‘Pemi Aguda
- “Manifest” by ‘Pemi Aguda
- “Clanfall: Death of Kings” by Odida Nyabundi
- “The Mannequin Challenge” by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki
- “Blueland” by Olamide Olanrewaju
- “Ibrahim and the Green Fishing Net”by Omar William Sow
- “To Look Forward” by Osahon Ize-Iyamu
- “Where the Rain Mothers Are” by Rafeeat Aliyu
- “The Daemon King of England” by Rafeeat Aliyu
- “Fruit of the Calabash” by Rafeeat Aliyu
- “Blood is Another Word for Hunger” by Rivers Solomon
- “Fairy Tales for Robots” by Sofia Samatar
- “Where You Go” by Somto O. Ihezue
- “Orlanda” by Tade Thompson
- “The Cure” by Tariro Ndoro
- “Egoli” by T L Huchu
- “Corialis” by T L Huchu
- “The Bend of Water” by Tiah Marie Beautement
- “Thoughtbox” by Tlotlo Tsamaase
- “River of Night” by Tlotlo Tsamaase
- “Behind Our Irises” by Tlotlo Tsamaase
- “Drummer Boy in a World” by Tobi Ogundiran
- “Guardian of the Gods” by Tobi Ogundiran
- “The Goatkeeper’s Harvest” by Tobi Ogundiran
- “A Water Heart” by Shanice Ndlovu
- “And This is How to Say” by Shingai Njeri Kagunda
- “Tends to Zero” by Wole Talabi
- “Red Cloth White Giraffe” by Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
- “The Wonder of Spirits” by Yvonne Nezianya
2021 GRAPHIC NOVEL LONG LIST
- Alex by Anna Mbale (writer) and Mwiche Songolo (artist) – Black Hut Comics
- Black Sheep by Mwiche Songolo (writer & artist) – Black Hut Comics
- Meanwhile… by Quinto Collab (various writers & artists), MaThoko’s Books, an imprint of GALA Queer Archive
- Moongirls by Nana Akosua Hanson (writer) AnimaxFYB Studios (art) – Ghana Drama Queens Collective
- New Men by Murewa Ayodele (writer) and Dotun Akande (artist) – Collectible Comics.
- Titan by Mazuba Chimbeza (writer & artist) – Black Hut Comics
COMMENTS -
Reader Interactions