The African Speculative Fiction Society has released the 2021 longlist for the Nommo Awards for African Speculative Fiction.

The African Speculative Fiction Society, composed of professional and semiprofessional African writers, editors, publishers, graphic artists and film makers, was founded in 2016.

The Nommos were presented for the first time in 2017. The awards are named for twins from Dogon cosmology who take a variety of forms, including appearing on land as fish, walking on their tails.

The long lists consist of all titles in their respective categories that were nominated by members of the ASFS. All works are speculative fiction, were published between January 1, 2019 – December 31 2020, and are thought to be by Africans as defined by the ASFS and Nommo Awards Guidelines. Some of these works were nominated once, some just missed the shortlist.  The ASFS lists them in full to draw attention to all the works members felt worthy of consideration.

A short list of about five works in each category will be announced in mid May and ASFS members will then vote.  The winners will be announced at an online ceremony some time this autumn.

2021 NOVEL LONGLIST

• Abi Daré — THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE 
• Akwaeke Emezi — THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI
• Ben Okri — FREEDOM ARTIST 
• Cat Hellisen — KING OF THE HOLLOW DARK
• Eugen Bacon — CLAIMING T-MO 
• Ilze Hugo — THE DOWN DAYS
• Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi — THE FIRST WOMAN
• Lauren Beukes — AFTERLAND 
• Ngugi wa Thiong’o — THE PERFECT NINE 
• Nick Wood — WATER MUST FALL
• Nikhil Singh — CLUB DED 
• Stephen Embleton — SOUL SEARCHING 
• Tade Thompson — THE ROSEWATER REDEMPTION 
• Tochi Onyebuchi — REBEL SISTERS 
• Yolande Horak — A TRIAL OF SPARKS AND KINDLING

2021 NOVELLA LONGLIST

• Caldon Mull — FERRYMAN
• Dare Segun Falowo — CONVERGENCE IN CHORUS ARCHITECTURE
• Dilman Dila — A FLEDGLING ABIBA 
• Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald — IFE-IKYOKU: THE TALE OF IMADEYUNUAGBON 
• Eugen Bacon — IVORY’S STORY
• Lauren Beukes — UNGIRLS
• Mame Bougouma Diene – THE SATELLITE CHARMER
• Moraa Gitaa – THE KIGANGO ORACLE
• Tlotlo Tsamaase – THE SILENCE OF THE WILTING SKIN
• Tochi Onyebuchi – RIOT BABY

2021 SHORT STORY LONGLIST

• Adelehin Ijasan   — THE NOT-SO-SECRET LIVES OF NIGERIAN POLITICIANS
• Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga — THAT WHICH SMELLS BAD
• Alvin Kathembe — THE GAME
• Chinelo Onwualu — WHAT THE DEAD MAN SAID
• Chinelo Onwualu — A LOVE SONG FOR HERKINAL AS COMPOSED BY ASHKERNAS AMID THE RUINS OF NEW HAVEN
• Chinwe Marycynthia Okafor — THE CHRONICAL OF ANAOMA
• Colin Cloud Dance — SPACE BAKIDE RIDE
• Dare Segun Falowo — NGOZI UGEGBE NWA
• Derek Lubangakene — FORT KWAME
• Derek Lubangakene — THE CULT OF REMINISCENCE
• Dilman Dila — RED_BATI
• Dilman Dila — YAT MADIT
• Eugen Bacon — A VISIT IN WHITE CHAPEL
• Eugen Bacon — THE ONE WHO SEES
• Eugen Bacon — THE ROAD TO WOOP WOOP
• Eugen Bacon — STILL SHE VISITS
• Innocent Chizaram Ilo — RAT AND FINCH ARE FRIENDS
• John Barigye — THE RED EARTH
• Mame Bougouma Diene — LEKKI LEKKI
• Mandisi Nkomo — DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF CAPITALISM AND SLAVERY
• Mazi Nwonwu — RAINMAKER
• Moustapha Mbacké Diop — A CURSE AT MIDNIGHT
• ‘Pemi Aguda — THINGS BOYS DO
• ‘Pemi Aguda — MANIFEST
• Odida Nyabundi — CLANFALL: DEATH OF KINGS
• Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki — THE MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE
• Olamide Olanrewaju — BLUELAND
• Omar William Sow — IBRAHIM AND THE GREEN FISHING NET
• Osahon Ize-Iyamu — TO LOOK FORWARD
• Rafeeat Aliyu — WHERE THE RAIN MOTHERS ARE
• Rafeeat Aliyu — THE DAEMON KING OF ENGLAND
• Rafeeat Aliyu — FRUIT OF THE CALABASH
• Rivers Solomon — BLOOD IS ANOTHER WORD FOR HUNGER
• Sofia Samatar — FAIRY TALES FOR ROBOTS
• Somto O. Ihezue — WHERE YOU GO
• Tade Thompson — ORLANDA
• Tariro Ndoro — THE CURE
• T L Huchu — EGOLI
• T L Huchu — CORIALIS
• Tiah Marie Beautement — THE BEND OF WATER
• Tlotlo Tsamaase — THOUGHTBOX
• Tlotlo Tsamaase — RIVER OF NIGHT
• Tlotlo Tsamaase — BEHIND OUR IRISES
• Tobi Ogundiran — DRUMMER BOY IN A WORLD
• Tobi Ogundiran — GUARDIAN OF THE GODS
• Tobi Ogundiran — THE GOATKEEPER’S HARVEST
• Shanice Ndlovu — A WATER HEART
• Shingai Njeri Kagunda — AND THIS IS HOW TO STAY
• Wole Talabi — TENDS TO ZERO
• Yvette Lisa Ndlovu — RED CLOTH WHITE GIRAFFE
• Yvonne Nezianya — THE WONDERS OF SPIRITS

2021 GRAPHIC NOVEL LONGLIST

• ALEX — Anna Mbale (writer) and Mwiche Songolo (artist) – Black Hut Comics
• BLACK SHEEP — Mwiche Songolo (writer & artist) – Black Hut Comics
• MEANWHILE… — Quinto Collab (various writers & artists), MaThoko’s Books, an imprint of GALA Queer Archive
• MOONGIRLS — Nana Akosua Hanson (writer) AnimaxFYB Studios (art) – Ghana Drama Queens Collective
• NEW MEN — Murewa Ayodele (writer) and Dotun Akande (artist) – Collectible Comics.
• TITAN — Mazuba Chimbeza (writer & artist) – Black Hut Comics.