African science fiction and fantasy is still on the rise. For those who want to catch up on new stories, authors, and trends, we are happy to present this list of 43 stories compiled by Nigerian SFF author Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki.

Ekpeki is the force behind the Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction anthology series. With a new edition of the anthology coming out this year, Ekpeki has put together a recommended list of stories for readers to explore as they await the collection. The stories featured in the collection were published within the last year or so.

Each story on this list represents a different facet of African futurism, speculative fiction, and science fiction. It draws from the deep wells of Africa’s literary forms, myths, cosmologies, and experience. The list features established voices like Dilman Dila, NK Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Deji Bryce Olukotun, Tade Thompson, Stephen Embleton, and many who are relatively new on the scene like Tobi Ogundiran and Adam Oyebanjo.

Some of the stories are available to read for free. Others are part of anthologies or short story collections, with buy links for you to purchase. Either way, click on the “read” link and begin exploring new and captivating worlds. This list of 45 stories was compiled by

Oyedotun Damilola Muees – “A Song for the Selkies” | Reckoning Mag (read)

Adelehin Ijasan – “Xhova” | Mothersound: Saautiverse Anthology (read)

Somto Ihezue and Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki – “A City, A Desert and all their Dirges” I  Mothersound, Saautiverse Anthology (read)

Busayo Akinmoju – “Kinsmen” | Other and Different Anthology (read)

Jackie Chikambure – “One Braid at a Time” | Zim SF #ShonaReads. (read)

Naomi Eselojor – “Seventy-year-old Corpse Harvester” I Dark Matter Magazine (read)

Joshua Uchenna Omenga & Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki – “The Pet of Olodumare” | The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (read)

Adam Oyabanjo – “The Wrong Shape To Fly” | Worlds Long Lost (read)

Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga – “Fell Ourselves” | Giganotosaurus (read)

Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe – “Immortality Soup” | Lightspeed Magazine (read)

Dilman Dila – “The Terminal Move” | Rosarium Publishing (read)

Joshua Uchenna Omenga & Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki – “Land of the Awaiting Birth” | Between Dystopias: The Road To Afropantheology (read)

Somto Ihezue – “A Guide, A Door, An Anchor” | Frivolous Comma (read)

Uchechukwu Nwaka – “Challenges to Becoming a Pro Dragonracer in Apapa-Downtown” | Escape Pod (read)

Ofori-Atta, Nana Afadua – “Headphone Boy” | Tales and Feathers Magazine (read)

Yvette Lisa Ndlovu – “His Thing” | Lightspeed Magazine (read)

Francis Ogamba – “Nurse The Children” | Uncharted Magazine (read)

Plangdi Neple – “Dreams, Wires and Nightmares” | Translunar Travelers Lounge (read)

Lerato Mahlangu – “Petunia” | Fiyah (read)

Nuzo Onoh – “Onyili” | Nightmare Magazine (read)

Masiyaleti Mahlangu – “There’s No Hurry In Botswana” | The Johannesburg Review of Books (read)

Victor Forna – “Kɛrozin Lamp Kurfi” | Apex Magazine (read)

Stephen Embleton – ‘Undulation” | Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology, Android Press (read)

Tochi Onyebuch – “Jamais Vue” | Asimov’s (read)

Lesley Nneka Arimah – “Invasion of the Baby Snatchers” | Out There Screaming (read)

Dare Segun Falowo – “October in Eran Riro” | Caged Ocean Dub (read)

Suyi Davies Okungbowa – “Lady Koi Koi: A Book Report” | Apex Mag (read)

Tade Thompson – “The Luck Thief” | The Book of  Witches (read)

Tobias S Buckell – “The Groves Lament” | Mothersound: The Sauutiverse Anthology (read)

Xan Van Rooyen – “The Broken Bones of Summer” | Mythaxis (read)

Chinaza Eziagighala – “A Dose of Insight” | Planet Scumm (read)

Tobi Ogundiran – “A Midnight In Moscow” | Jackal, Jackal (read)

Mwanabibi Sikamo – “Stolen Memories” | Omenana Magazine (read)

Eugen Bacon – “Human Beans” | European Astrobiology Institute and Laksa Media (read)

Kofi Nyameye – “The Pit of Babel” | Asimov’s (read)

MH Ayinde – “The Invoker and Her Quartet” | Kaleiodetrope (read)

Deji Bryce Olukotun – “This Is How We Save Them” | Life Beyond Us (read)

J Umeh – “Kalabashing” | Mothersound: The Sauutiverse Anthology (read)

Moses Oseh Utomi – “Lies of the Ajungo” | Tordotcom (read)

Eugen Bacon – “Sina, The Child With No Echo” | Android Press (read)

Abdulrahim Hussani – “The Library Virus” | Wilted Pages: An Anthology of Dark Academia (read)

NK Jemisin – “Reckless Eyeballing” | Out There Screaming (read)

Nnedi Okorafor – “Stones” | Clarkesworld (read)

Alex Jennings – “Good Night Gracie” | New Suns 2 (read)