Are These Awards Dead or Just Pining for the Fjords?

Myriad science fiction and fantasy awards are given but not so many that it goes unnoticed if they skip a year. Here are four sff awards that have missed a beat, with an assessment of whether we’re likely to see them again.

Campbell Award

JOHN W. CAMPBELL MEMORIAL AWARD

LAST GIVEN: 2019

Harry Harrison and Brian W. Aldiss established the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best science fiction novel of the year following the editor’s 1971 death. The juried award was first presented in 1973. It came to be frequently presented at the University of Kansas Center for the Study of Science Fiction’s (CSSF) Campbell Conference (renamed “Gunn Center Conference” in 2019).    

However, the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel has not been given since 2019. A number of awards were forced on hiatus by the pandemic but before that began the Campbell was already in trouble over strong challenges to the reputation of its namesake.

In Jeannette Ng’s acceptance speech at Dublin 2019 for a different award also named after the late editor she called Campbell a fascist who exalted “the ambitions of imperialists and colonizers, settlers and industrialists”, stirring enough controversy that the sponsors promptly renamed it the Astounding Award. And a week later, Chris McKitterick, then the CSSF Director, announced that the Gunn Center (CSSF) was changing the name of the annual Campbell Conference and was “discussing alternatives” for the Campbell Memorial Award.

The Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction acknowledges and condemns the problematic words and actions of John W. Campbell.

We had already been discussing changing the name of the Campbell Conference to the Gunn Center Conference, which is in any case more accurate…

As for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best science-fiction novel of the year, the Center directors and Award jurors are currently discussing alternatives; when a decision is made, we will announce it.

However, by November 2021 McKitterick had left the Gunn Center for another job under the umbrella of the University of Kansas’ Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI), and the following month the CSSF got a new director. Despite the CSSF’s then-Associate-Deputy Kij Johnson saying, “The Gunn Center remains in control of the Conference and the Campbell Award, and it will be up to them to decide what comes next,” what happened is that the Center continued running the Sturgeon Award and did nothing with the Campbell Award. Whether they wanted to may have been a moot question — McKitterick says the CSSF doesn’t own the rights. On his own Campbell Award website he wrote, “The new English SF Center does not own or manage the Award, and its Chair [McKitterick] and jury are seeking a new host organization friendly with our history and mission.”

When the award was last given in 2019 the jury members were Gregory Benford, Sheila Finch, Paul Kincaid, Christopher McKitterick (Chair), Pamela Sargent, and Lisa Yaszek.

Jury member Gregory Benford said in 2021, “No clear message yet on the award. We’ve gotten so little from NYC publishing last year and this, we can’t do it. Next year, yes. On the name: we’re divided, with no clear other choice. (I favor keeping just JWC award.)” However, there was no activity throughout 2022 either. Then at the end of the year, unfortunately, Gregory Benford had a major stroke. Although Allen Steele offered a positive update, it would be surprising if Benford resumed work on a literary jury.

With no sponsor, years having passed without a decision on a new name, an award jury divided over making a name change and likely to lose its most highly-awarded member for health reasons, the Campbell Memorial Award has probably come to the end of its run.

Prediction: The award has “joined the choir invisible”.

JAMES WHITE AWARD

LAST GIVEN: 2019

The James White Award, established in 2000, offered non-professional writers the opportunity to have their work published in Interzone, the UK’s leading sf magazine. The winner received a £200 prize. The competition was open to original, unpublished short stories of not more than 6,000 words by non-professional writers.

Quoting the administrator Martin McGrath, their Facebook page announced in August 2020 that “Due to technical issues with the current website, and problems caused by a certain global crises beyond our control, we have not been able to set a timetable for this year and, with a great deal of reluctance, we have concluded that it will not be possible to schedule the competition in 2020.” The text ended with a promise to return in 2021, but there have been no further posts on that page.

In mid-2022 Andy Cox was struggling to produce his final issue of Interzone before handing over to Gareth Jelley, who seems to have found it hard going, with his first issue not seen until this year (dated January, reached subscribers in February) and the second still awaited despite hopes of return to a bimonthly schedule. Therefore he probably has not even been asked about continuing the James White Award.

Prediction: “This is an ex-award.”

NOMMO AWARDS

LAST GIVEN: 2022

The Nommo Awards for Speculative Fiction by Africans are presented by the African Speculative Fiction Society, an organization of professional and semiprofessional African writers, editors, publishers, graphic artists and film makers. The group was founded in 2016, and the awards were given for the first time in 2017.

For the first three years the Nommo Awards ceremonies were held at the Aké Arts & Book Festival in Nigeria. The 2020 ceremony – which had already been taken online due to the pandemic – was postponed out of respect for the people injured in protests then occurring in Lagos and other Nigerian cities. After a delay the virtual ceremony went ahead. The next two ceremonies moved to North American venues, with the 2021 awards given at the World Science Fiction Convention, DisCon III, in Washington, D.C. and the 2022 awards at Chicon 8 in Chicago.

Since the Chicon 8 ceremony there has been no Nommo Awards activity. The African Speculative Fiction Society reportedly said they were suspending it to restructure the organization. While I know the organization wants to do more than just give an award, the Nommos have been successful in drawing attention to some good sff writers.

Prediction: We hope it will soon be ready to fly again.

CHESLEY AWARDS

LAST GIVEN: 2021 (for work published in 2020)

The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists established the Chesley Awards in 1985 as a peer award to recognize individual works and achievements during a given year. They were initially called the ASFA Awards but were later renamed to honor the famed astronomical artist Chesley Bonestell after his death in 1986. The awards are nominated and decided upon by ASFA members.

ASFA called for suggestions of quality work published in 2021 for use in formulating a 2022 Chesley ballot, however, no ballot went out and no awards were presented. The inability to present awards was attributed to the organization’s lack of volunteers.

In late spring of 2023 a new call for Chesley suggestions went out. Then on July 10 ASFA announced, “We are now in the process of putting together our curated nomination list”.

Prediction: The Chesleys may have been “simply stunned.” They show promising signs of life.

[Thanks to David Langford for an assist on the James White Award.]

2022 Nommo Awards

The 2022 winners of the African Speculative Fiction Society’s Nommo Awards were announced today in a ceremony held during Chicon 8. The Awards were hosted by Sheree Renée Thomas and presented by previous winners Chikodili Emelumadu, Wole Talabi and Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki.

The African Speculative Fiction Society, composed of professional and semiprofessional African writers, editors, publishers, graphic artists and film makers, was founded in 2016. Members of the African Speculative Fiction Society nominate the short list and then vote for the winners in each category. 

The host for the Awards, Sheree Renée Thomas said of African speculative writing, “What makes African speculative writing distinctive is not just a matter of geography for in the African novel, the continent and her nations are not merely a setting to serve as an accessory to the storytelling but the people, their communities and their cultures are an essential foundation from which the writing springs.”

All of these works are speculative fiction, published between January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021, and are by Africans as defined by the ASFS and Nommo Awards Guidelines. This is the sixth year that the Nommo Awards have been given, prize money sponsored by Tom Ilube CBS.  This is the first year that a panel of readers have contributed to the selection.

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.

NOVEL

  • The Library Of The Dead by T. L. Huchu (Tor Books 2021)

NOVELLA

  • Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor/Forge, Tordotcom, 2021)

SHORT STORY

GRAPHIC NOVEL

  • Iyanu: Child Of Wonder Vol 2 — Roye Okupe, Godwin Akpan (YouNeek Studios/Dark Horse Comic)

2022 Nommo Awards Shortlist

The African Speculative Fiction Society has released the 2022 shortlist 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.

All works are speculative fiction, were published between January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021, and are by Africans as defined by the ASFS and Nommo Awards Guidelines

ASFS members will vote on the shortlist until August 31, and the winners will be announced at an online ceremony sometime this autumn.

NOVEL SHORTLIST

  • THEY MADE US BLOOD AND FURY by Cheryl S. Ntumy (Amazon KDP, 2021)
  • THE GILDED ONES by Namina Forna (Delacorte Press, 2021)
  • SON OF THE STORM by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Orbit US/Orbit UK, 2021)
  • FAR FROM THE LIGHT OF HEAVEN by Tade Thompson (Orbit Books 2021)
  • THE MADHOUSE by T J Benson (Masobe Books 2021)
  • THE LIBRARY OF THE DEAD by T. L. Huchu (Tor Books 2021)

NOVELLA SHORTLIST

  • THE FUTURE GOD OF LOVE by Dilman Dila (Luna Press, February 2021)
  • NOT SEEING IS A FLOWER by Erhu Kome (Eraserhead Press, 2021)
  • AN EXPLORATION OF NICHOLE OTIENO’S EARLY FILMOGRAPHY (1232-1246) by Kola Heyward-Rotimi (Strange Horizons September 2021)
  • REMOTE CONTROL by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor/Forge, Tordotcom, 2021)
  • THE ABOMINATION by Nuzo Onoh (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September-October 2021)

SHORT STORY SHORTLIST

GRAPHIC NOVEL SHORTLIST

  • THE iJOURNAL — Awele Emili
  • IYANU: CHILD OF WONDER VOL 2 — Roye Okupe, Godwin Akpan (YouNeek Studios/Dark Horse Comic)

Nommo Awards to be Announced at DisCon III

The African Speculative Fiction Society’s 2021 Nommo Awards Ceremony will be held this December at DisCon III, the World Science Fiction Convention.

The ASFS is the organization of African writers, artists, editors, and publishers in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and related genres.

The organization says the virtual component of the convention “means greater numbers of African writers can be part of the convention, to take part in panels, give readings and attend events of interest to them all online. Holding the Awards ceremony as part of the convention’s diversity streams will help bring African writing and comics to the attention of the international SFF fan, writing, editing and publishing communities.”

ASFS member voting on the 2021 Nommo Awards shortlist closed August 30.

2021 Nommo Awards Shortlist

The African Speculative Fiction Society has released the 2021 shortlist 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.

All works are speculative fiction, were published between January 1, 2019 – December 31 2020, and are by Africans as defined by the ASFS and Nommo Awards Guidelines

ASFS members will vote on the shortlist until August 31, and the winners will be announced at an online ceremony sometime this autumn.

NOVEL

  • Akwaeke Emezi — THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI
  • Nikhil Singh — CLUB DED 
  • Stephen Embleton — SOUL SEARCHING 

NOVELLA

  • David A. Atta — GUARDIANS: THE AWAKENING
  • Dilman Dila — A FLEDGLING ABIBA 
  • Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald — IFE-IKYOKU: THE TALE OF IMADEYUNUAGBON 
  • Tlotlo Tsamaase – THE SILENCE OF THE WILTING SKIN
  • Tochi Onyebuchi – RIOT BABY

SHORT STORY

  • Innocent Chizaram Ilo — RAT AND FINCH ARE FRIENDS
  • T L Huchu — CORIALIS
  • Tiah Marie Beautement — THE BEND OF WATER
  • Tlotlo Tsamaase — BEHIND OUR IRISES
  • Tobi Ogundiran — THE GOATKEEPER’S HARVEST

GRAPHIC NOVEL

  • 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.

2021 Nommo Nominations Longlist

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.

2020 Nommo Awards for Speculative Fiction by Africans

The announcement of the winners for the African Speculative Fiction Society’s 2020 Nommo Awards, which had been rescheduled out of respect for the people injured in the recent protests in Lagos and other Nigerian cities, went ahead in a virtual ceremony on October 25 with awards being presented by Tade Thompson, past winner of the Ilube Nommo Award and the Clarke Award, Chinelo Onwualu, co-founder Omenana Magazine, Mame Bougouma Diene, author and ASFS officer, and Setor Fiadzigbey, co-winner of the 2018 Nommo Award for best comic. 

The 2020 Ilube Nommo Award for Best Novel

  • David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Voting narrowly gave the victory that work over The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell.

The 2020 Nommo Award for Novella

  • Incompleteness Theories by Wole Talabi

This is his second Nommo Award.  The novella comes from Talabi’s single-author collection Incomplete Solutions.

The 2020 Nommo Award for Short Story

[Tie]

  • “Tiny Bravery” by Ada Nnadi
  • “Sin Eater” by Chikodili Emelumadu

Both stories were published by the Nigeria-based online journal Omenana.

 The 2020 Nommo Award for Graphic Novel/Comic

  • DANFO by Morakinyo Araoye, and Steven Akinyemi (authors) Ogim Ekpezu (artist)  (TAG Comics)

The Nommo Awards were established in 2016.  The roughly 200 published authors and artists who are members of the African Speculative Fiction Society first nominate and then vote for the winners.  The Awards recognize work in the four categories by African creators across multiple genres including fantasy, interstitial fiction, science fiction, spiritual fiction, Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism and horror.

The Ilube Nommo Awards are named after Tom Ilube, CBE who sponsors the prize money for all four awards.  This year additional funding was received via Africa Storybundle from Apex Publications and Shadreck Chikoti.

For a full listing of the short lists and winners of previous Nommos visit the ASFS website

2020 Nommo Awards Delayed

The African Speculative Fiction Society has postponed announcing the winners of the 2020 Nommo Awards for Speculative Fiction by Africans due to the recent violence in Nigeria. The awards were scheduled to be presented October 22 at The Ake Arts & Book Festival held annually in that country, and even though the event has been taken online this year due to the pandemic, the organizers felt it would be inappropriate to proceed with the normal opening ceremonies where the awards are given.  

Geoff Ryman relayed the decision on the ASFS Facebook group page:

The world has stood back in horror (or at least it should have done) at recent events in Nigeria. Out of respect for the people who’ve died, and to revise the Festival so that it deals with pressing issues, there will be no opening ceremony this evening at the Ake Festival, and thus no announcement of the winners of the 2020 Nommo awards. Some events dealing with the pressing issues will go ahead. Please check the Ake Festival website. This must have been a huge decision for the organisers, especially given all the thought and work that went into making Ake a Covid-aware online event. Thoughts to Lola Shoneyin and her staff. More news about when and where the Ake winners will be announced to follow

Taking the place of the Festival’s opening ceremonies are panel discussions such as this one:

A New York Times op-ed says the Nigerian protests began earlier this month in response to a video of police brutality:

On Oct. 3, a video surfaced online that appeared to show the point-blank killing of a Nigerian citizen by officers of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, commonly known as SARS. In the days since the video’s emergence, people across the country, young and some old, have taken to the streets to protest police brutality and call for SARS’s disbandment.

Demonstrations have continued since then, with many deaths. Yesterday’s AP News’s story told about a pair of confrontations that added to the count: “Nigerian forces killed 12 peaceful protesters, Amnesty says”.

Amnesty International said in a report Wednesday that Nigeria’s security forces fired upon two large gatherings of peaceful protesters Tuesday night, killing 12 people calling for an end to police brutality.

At least 56 people have died during two weeks of widespread demonstrations against police violence, including 38 on Tuesday, the group said. The Nigerian government did not immediately comment about Amnesty International’s allegations.

The #EndSARS protests began amid calls for Nigeria’s government to close the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known as SARS, but has become a much wider demand for better governance in Nigeria.

Despite the growing violence, the Nigerian protesters defied a curfew and faced off with security forces Wednesday as gunfire rang out and fires burned in Lagos, a day after shots were fired into a crowd of demonstrators singing the country’s national anthem.

The security forces opened fire without warning on the protesters Tuesday night at the Lekki toll plaza, Amnesty said in its report, citing eyewitnesses, video footage and hospital reports.

… President Muhammadu Buhari — who has said little about the protests engulfing his country — did not mention the Lekki shootings in a statement Wednesday but issued a call for calm and vowed police reforms.

Buhari’s statement said the dissolution of the SARS unit “is the first step in a set of reform policies that will deliver a police system accountable to the Nigerian people.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that the right of Nigerians “to protest peacefully needs to be guaranteed.”

He said “police brutality needs to stop, and those responsible for acts of such dramatic violence are made accountable.”

The Ake Arts & Book Festival is tweeting comments from writers and musicians about the crisis — several dozen messages can be read at the link.  

2020 Nommo Awards Shortlists

The African Speculative Fiction Society has unveiled the shortlists for the 2020 Nommo Awards for Speculative Fiction by Africans. 

Voting for the winners by members of the ASFS will start on May 30 and end August 30.

2020 Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Novel by an African

  • Masande Ntshanga, Triangulum (Penguin Random House South Africa)
  • Namwali Serpell, The Old Drift (Penguin Random House/Vintage/Hogarth)
  • Nerine Dorman, Sing Down The Stars (Tafelberg)
  • Suyi Davies Okungbowa, David Mogo, Godhunter (Abaddon)
  • Tade Thompson, Rosewater Insurrection (Orbit)
  • Tochi Onyebuchi, War Girls (Razorbill Penguin Group)

2020 Nommo Award for Best Speculative Novella by an African

  • Caldon Mull, Weatherman (Caldon Mull)
  • Kerstin Hall, The Border Keeper (Tor.com)
  • Wole Talabi, Incompleteness Theories (from single-author anthology Incomplete Solutions, Luna Press)

2020 Nommo Award for Best Speculative Short Story by an African

  • Ada Nnadi, Tiny Bravery (Omenana)
  • Chikodili Emelumadu, Sin Eater  (Omenana)
  • Deji Bryce Olukotun, Between The Dark And The Dark (Lightspeed)
  • Ivana Akotowaa Ofori, Principles Of Balance  (Jalada)
  • Suyi Davies Okungbowa, The Haunting Of 13 Olúwo Street  (Fireside)
  • Wole Talabi, When We Dream We Are Our God (Apex Magazine and All Borders Are Temporary, TrAP Magazine)

2020 Nommo Award for Best Graphic Novel/Comic by Africans

  • Beast From Venus by Kiprop Kimutai (author) and Salim Busuru (artist) (Avandu Vosi)
  • Captain South Africa by Bill Masuku (artist and author) (Enigma Comix)
  • Danfo by Morakinyo Araoye, and Steven Akinyemi (authors) Ogim Ekpezu (artist)  (TAG Comics)
  • Hawi by Beserat Debebe (author) and Stanley Obende (artist)  (Etan Comics)
  • Kami by Mika Hirwa (author and artist) (Mira Hirwa publisher)
  • Nani by Ziki Nelson (author) Jason Lamy (artist) (Kugali comics)
  • Sanu by Charles Sentongo (author and artist) Elupe Comics
  • Welcome To Dead World by Bill Masuku (author and art) (Sam Graphico Anthology)

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 winners will be announced at an online ceremony some time this autumn.

 [Thanks to Geoff Ryman for the story.]

2020 Nommo Nominations Longlist

The African Speculative Fiction Society has released the 2020 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, 2018 – December 31 2019, 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.

2020 NOVEL LONG LIST

  • Akwaeke Emezi — PET (Faber and Faber)
  • Eugen Bacon — CLAIMING T-MO (Meerkat Press)
  • Frank Owen — NORTH (Penguin Random House South Africa)
  • Lauri Kubuitsile — BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL (Penguin Random House South Africa)
  • Masande Ntshanga — TRIANGULUM (Penguin Random House South Africa)
  • Mary Watson — THE WICKERLIGHT (Bloomsbury)
  • Mary Watson — THE WREN HUNT (Bloomsbury)
  • Myles Ojabo — BLACK RIVER (Dafel Books)
  • Namwali Serpell — THE OLD DRIFT (Penguin Random House/Vintage/Hogarth)
  • Nerine Dorman — SING DOWN THE STARS (Tafelberg)
  • Nerine Dorman — THE COMPANY OF BIRDS (Immanion Press)
  • Rachael A.Z. Mutabingwa — KUNDA (Zaaz Press) free on Kindle
  • Suyi Davies Okungbowa — DAVID MOGO, GODHUNTER (Simon and Schuster)
  • Tade Thompson — ROSEWATER REDEMPTION (Orbit)
  • Tade Thompson — ROSEWATER INSURRECTION (Orbit)
  • T C Farren — THE BOOK OF MALACHI (Kwela)
  • Temi Oh — DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA TWO? (Simon and Schuster)
  • Toby Bennet — THE MUSIC BOX (Tafelberg)
  • Tochi Onyebuchi — WAR GIRLS (Razorbill Penguin Group)
  • Tomi Adeyemi — CHILDREN OF VIRTUE AND VENGEANCE (Macmillan Publishers/Henry Holt and Co.)
  • Yolandie Horak — A STUDY OF ASH & SMOKE

NOVELS NOMINATED BUT NOT ELIGIBLE

  • Evan Winters — A RAGE OF DRAGONS – first published in 2017
  • Mugabi Byenkya — DEAR PHILOMENA – first published 2017 (Discovery Diversity Publishing)
  • Tochi Onyebuchi — RIOT BABY – published 2020 (Tom Doherty/Tor.com)
  • Tomi Adeyemi — CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE – Shortlisted 2019 (Macmillan Publishers/Henry Holt and Co.)

2020 NOVELLA LONG LIST

  • Bill Masuku — MISFORTUNISM (Sera Blue Books)
  • Bill Masuku — PSYCHOPHAGY (Sera Blue Books)
  • Caldon Mull — WEATHERMAN (Caldon Mull)
  • Caldon Mull — TERRAFORM TRIPTYCH (Caldon Mull)
  • C L Corona — HIGH TOWER GODS (Amazon Digital Services)
  • Cat Hellisen — EVEN WHEN THE WORLD HAS TOLD US WE HAVE ENDED (ebook)
  • Kerstin Hall — THE BORDER KEEPER (Tor.com)
  • Unathi Slasha — JAH HILLS (Black Ghost Books) — NB: copyright 2017, published 2018
  • Wole Talabi — INCOMPLETENESS THEORIES — (single-author anthology, INCOMPLETE SOLUTIONS, Luna Press)

2020 SHORT STORY LONG LIST

  • Acan Innocent Immaculate — SONG BIRD (Brittle Paper and Go the Way Your Blood Beats, anthology edited by Anathi Jongilanga, Brittle Paper)
  • Ada Nnadi — TINY BRAVERY (Omenana)
  • Ama Josephine Budge — A SHOAL OF LOVERS LEADS ME HOME (Anathema Magazine)
  • Ayodele Olufintuade — THE STORM PAINTER (Strange Horizons)
  • Caldon Mull REFUGIA — (Omenana)
  • Chikodili Emelumadu — SIN EATER (Omenana)
  • Chinelo Onwualu — WHAT THE DEAD MAN SAID (Slate.com)
  • Dare Segun Falowo — VAIN KNIFE (The Dark Magazine)
  • Deji Bryce Olukotun — BETWEEN THE DARK AND THE DARK (Lightspeed)
  • Ekari Mbvundula — THE BLUE BALL (Story Ink Africa)
  • Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald — IFE-IYOKU (Selene Quarterly)
  • Eugen Bacon — A PINING (StylusLit),
  • Eugen Bacon — THE DAY CHIVALRY DIED (AntipodeanSF),
  • Eugen Bacon — A GOOD BALL (Other Terrain Journal); (the three Bacon stories are from the single-author anthology DYING AND OTHER STORIES)
  • Hannah Onoguwe — WHERE THE PALM NUT GROWS (Timeworn Literary Journal)
  • Haku Jackson — THE SILENT GOD (Omenana)
  • Imade Iyamu — ODUDUWA: THE RETURN (in anthology YOUNG EXPLORERS ADVENTURE GUIDE VOL 6 edited by Corie and Sean Weaver, Dreaming Robot Press)
  • Innocent Chizaram Ilo — FEMALE COMPUTER WANTED APPLY WITHIN (Fireside Fiction)
  • Innocent Chizaram Ilo — RED CROWS (Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores)
  • Ivana Akotowaa Ofori — PRINCIPLES OF BALANCE (Jalada)
  • Kathleen Kayembe — THE OCEAN THAT FADES INTO SKY (Lightspeed)
  • Keletso Mopai — BECOMING A GOD (from the single-author anthology IF YOU KEEP DIGGING, Jacana Media) (Omenana)
  • Keletso Mopai – FOURTEEN (from single-author anthology IF YOU KEEP DIGGING, Jacana Media)
  • Kofi Nyameye — THE LIGHTS GO OUT ONE BY ONE (Asimovs Science Fiction)
  • Lesley Arimah — SKINNED (McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern)
  • Mame Bougouma Diene — ANOTHER DAY IN THE DESERT (EscapePod)
  • Mame Bougouma Diene — THE LAST OF HER KIND (Omenana)
  • Mandisi Nkomo — DROPZONE (Mandisi Nkomo)
  • Mohale Mashigo – MUTSHIDZI (anthology A WORLD OF HORROR edited by Eric J Guignard, Dark Moon Books)
  • Nick Wood — A MILLION REASONS WHY (from single-author collection LEARNING MONKEY AND CROCODILE, Luna Press)
  • Nikhil Singh — THE RE-EVOLUTION OF CLOUD 9 (from anthology THE UNQUIET DREAMER: A TRIBUTE TO HARLAN ELLISON edited by Preston Grassman, PS Publishing)
  • Olufunke Ogundimu — IN-BETWEEN (Jalada)
  • Ope Adedeji — AFTER THE BIRDS (McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern)
  • Osahon Ize-Iyamu — FLAGS FLYING BEFORE A FALL (Strange Horizons)
  • Osahon Ize-Iyamu — IN THE GARDEN WATCHING NIM-NOMS (Omenana)
  • Osahon Ize-Iyamu — WHO HAS NEVER LOVED A GENTLE HOUSE? (Strange Horizons)
  • Osahon Ize-Iyamu — THEREIN LIES A SOUL (The Dark Magazine)
  • ‘Pemi Aguda — MANIFEST 11 (Granta)
  • ‘Pemi Aguda — 24 ALHAJI WILLIAMS STREET (Zoetrope)
  • Rafeeat Aliyu — WHERE THE RAIN MOTHERS ARE (Strange Horizons)
  • Rafeif Ismail — SOMETHING LIKE REVOLUTION (Meanjin Quarterly)
  • Shingai Kagunda — HOLDING ON TO WATER (Omenana)
  • Stephen Embleton — THE GIRL WITH TWO BODIES (Kalahari Review)
  • Suyi Davies Okungbowa — THE HAUNTING OF 13 OLÚWO STREET (Fireside)
  • Suyi Davies Okungbowa — A LIGHT FOR THE DARK UNDER (Brick Moon) (also in the anthology IT STARTS WITH A HEIST (Brick Moon)
  • Tariro Ndoro — A TALE OF TWO SISTERS (anthology HOTEL AFRICA, Short Story Day Africa)
  • Tariro Ndoro — THE CURE (in NOWHEREVILLE: WEIRD IS OTHER PEOPLE, Broken Eye Books)
  • T L Huchu — CORIALIS (Fiyah)
  • Tiah Marie Beautement — THE AMERICAN REFUGEE (Cast of Wonders Podcast)
  • Tobi Ogundiran — FAÊL (Beneath Ceaseless Skies)
  • Wole Talabi — WHEN WE DREAM WE ARE OUR GOD (Apex Magazine and ALL BORDERS ARE TEMPORARY, TrAP Magazine)
  • Wole Talabi — ABEOKUTA52 (Omenana)
  • Wole Talabi — TENDS TO ZERO (in NOWHEREVILLE: WEIRD IS OTHER PEOPLE, Broken Eye Books)

SHORT STORIES LONG LISTED BUT NOT ELIGIBLE

  • Blaize Kaye — BRAND NEW WAYS TO LOSE YOU OVER AND OVER – short listed 2019 (Omenana)
  • Dare Segun Falowo — NGOZI UGEGBE NWA – published 2020 (The Dark Magazine)
  • Derek Lubangakene — ORIGAMI ANGELS – not eligible shortlisted 2019 (Omenana)
  • Henrietta Rose-Innes — LIMERENCE – first published 2016 (Some Such Stories)
  • Innocent Chizaram Ilodianya — RAT AND FINCH ARE FRIENDS – published 2020 (Strange Horizons)
  • Tiah Marie Beautement — MOMENTO MORI – shortlisted 2019 (Omenana)
  • T L Huchu NJUZU – shortlisted 2019 (first published in AfroSFV3 edited by Ivor W. Hartmann and in the Johannesburg Review of Books)

2020 GRAPHIC NOVEL LONG LIST

  • BEAST FROM VENUS — (Avandu Vosi) Kiprop Kimutai (author) and Salim Busuru (artist)
  • BLACKMOON (Comic Republic) — Tobe Max Ezeogu (author) and Tobe Max Ezeogu, Tobe Ezeogu, Ozo Ezeogu, Kelechi Isaac (artists)
  • CAPTAIN SOUTH AFRICA Part 1: Origins (Enigma Comix) — Bill Masuku (author and artist)
  • DANFO (TAG Comics) — Morakinyo Araoye, and Steven Akinyemi (authors) Ogim Ekpezu (artist)
  • HAWI (Etan Comics)– Beserat Debebe (author) and Stanley Obende (artist)
  • IYANU CHILD OF WONDER (YouNeek Studios) — Roye Okupe (author) and Godwin Akpan (artist)
  • JEMBER (Etan Comics) — Beserate Dbebe (author) and Stanley Obende (artist)
  • KAMI (Mira Hirwa publisher) — Mika Hirwa (author and artist)
  • MOONGIRLS (Drama Queens Gh) — Akosua Hanson, Suhaidatu Dramani, George Hanson, Tsiddi (authors) and AnimaxFYB Studios (artists)
  • LAND OF GODS: ORUN (Vortex Comics) — Kevin Sampong and Somto Ajuluchukwu (authors) Gemahel Kamgain (art)
  • NANI (Kugali Comics) — Ziki Nelson (author) Jasonas Lamy (artist)
  • SANU (Elupe Comics) — SSentogo Charles (author and artist)
  • WELCOME TO DEAD WORLD (Sam Graphico Anthology) — Bill Masuku (author and artist)

GRAPHIC NOVELS NOMINATED NOT ELIGIBLE

  • TATASHE — Cassandra Mark (author) and Tobe Max Ozeogu (Comic Republic) shortlisted 2019.
  • ROVIK — Yvonne Waniyoke (author) and Salim Busuru (Avandu Vosi) shortlisted 2019.

[Thanks to Geoff Ryman for the story.]