Shortlist For The 2021 NOMMO Awards Announced by the ASFS

The shortlist for the 2021 NOMMO Awards have been announced by the ASFS (African Speculative Fiction Society), an organization of African writers, artists, editors, and publishers in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and related genres.

The NOMMO Awards recognize works of speculative fiction by Africans, defined as "Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the broadest possible definition of speculative/fantastical fiction including horror, slipstream, interstitial, stories based on traditional beliefs, alternate history etc. An inclusive rather than exclusive term designed to include most especially any distinctively African forms that may develop."

The awards take their name from Dogon cosmology, and the ancestral spirits / deities who take a variety of forms, including appearing on land as fish, walking on their tails.

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

• 'The Death of Vivek Oji', Akwaeke Emezi, (Riverhead Books)
• 'Club Ded', Nikhil Singh, (Luna Press)
• 'Soul Searching', Stephen Embleton, (Guardbridge Books)

Best Novella

• 'Guardians: The Awakening', David A Atta, (Makere Books)
• 'A Fledgling Abiba', Dilman Dila, (Guardbridge Books)
• 'Ife-Iyoku: The Tale of Imadeyunuagbon', Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, (Dominion, Aurelia Leo)
• 'The Silence of the Wilting Skin', Tlotlo Tsamaase, (Pink Narcissus Press)
• 'Riot Baby', Tochi Onyebuchi, (Tor)
  

Best Short Story

• 'Rat And Finch Are Friends', Innocent Chizaram Ilo, (Strange Horizons)
• 'Corialis', TL Huchu, (Fiyah)
• 'The Bend Of Water', Tiah Marie Beautement, (Omenana)
• 'Behind Our Irises', Tlotlo Tsamaase, (Africanfuturism Anthology published by Brittle Paper)
• 'The Goatkeeper's Harvest', Tobi Ogundiran, (The Dark)

Best Graphic Novel

• 'Alex', Anna Mbale (writer) and Mwiche Songolo (artist), (Black Hut Comics)
• 'Black Sheep', Mwiche Songolo (writer & artist), (Black Hut Comics)
• 'Meanwhile . . .', Qinto Collab (various writers & artists), (MaThoko's Books / GALA Queer Archive)
•  'Moongirls', Nana Akosua Hanson (writer) AnimaxFYB Studios (art), (Drama Queens Collective)
• 'New Men', Murewa Ayodele (writer) and Dotun Akande (artist), (Action Lab, Danger Zone)
• 'Titan', Mazuba Chimbeza (writer and artist), (Black Hut Comics)