The African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS) has officially registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in the United Kingdom, marking a pivotal moment in the organization’s evolution since its founding in 2016. This new status strengthens ASFS’s ability to secure partnerships, grants, and sponsorships while improving financial transparency and governance, all essential steps for an organization that has spent nearly a decade championing African speculative fiction across the continent and diaspora.

The transition means ASFS can now expand beyond its flagship Nommo Awards to offer professional development workshops on publishing, copyright, and marketing, create a comprehensive database of African speculative fiction works, and establish member networking and advocacy initiatives. As one ASFS spokesperson noted, “Becoming a CIC gives us the structure and resources to better serve our members, celebrate African creativity, and sustain the Nommo Awards and related programmes well into the future.”

Voting for the 2025 Nommo Awards opened on October 24 and runs until November 14, with ASFS members casting ballots in four categories: Best Novel (The Ilube Award), Best Novella, Best Short Story, and Best Graphic Novel. Now in their eighth year, the awards celebrate works that imagine bold futures and reframe histories through African voices. Winners will be announced at the opening ceremony of the Aké Arts & Book Festival in Lagos, taking place November 20–22.

ASFS will also host “Worldbuilding Africa’s Future,” a one-day Applied African Speculative Fiction workshop at the University of Lagos on November 19, exploring how creativity, science, and innovation intersect to address real-world challenges. The organization welcomes donations and partnerships through www.africansfs.com to support its growing mission of advocacy, education, and creative collaboration.