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.

See the full longlist below.

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

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