The shortlist for the 2021 Nommo Awards has been announced. The prize recognizes the finest piece of fantasy or speculative fiction by an African writer.

The Nommo Award founded in 2016 and is annually run by the African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS). The awards are given in four categories: the 1000 USD Best Novel named after the award’s benefactor Tom Ilube, the 500 USD Best Novella, the 500 USD Best Short Story, and the 1000 USD Best Comic or Graphic Novel.

We are thrilled that “Behind Our Irises” by Tlotlo Tsamaase, published on our Africanfuturism: the Anthology is on the short story shortlist. Read the anthology for free here.

In addition to including established writers such as Akwaeke Emezi, Tochi Onyebuchi, and Tendai Huchu, the list features new voices like Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Innocent Ilo and Tobi Ogundiran.

The organizers note that while Lauren Beukes’s acclaimed novel Afterland was qualified to be shortlisted in the novel category, the author recused herself from the shortlist, saying  “I’d like to make way for new and vital voices.”

The winners will be decided by ASFS member votes.

See the full shortlist below:

The Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African

  • The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
  • Club Ded by Nikhil Singh
  • Soul Searching by Stephen Embleton

2021 Novella Shortlist

  • Guardians: The Awakening by David A. Atta
  • A Fledgling Abiba by Dilman Dila
  • Ife-Ikyoku: The Tale of Imadeyunuagbon by Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald
  • The Silence of the Wilting Skin by Tlotlo Tsamaase
  • Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi

2021 Short Story Shortlist

2021 Graphic Novel Short 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 Comic