Christmas came early for Akwaeke, Ilo, and others, who were announced as the winners of the 2021 NOMMO Awards.
The awards were presented at DisCon III, the 79th World Science Fiction Convention which held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The WorldCon is a platform for the annual gathering of science fiction and fantasy fans, writers, artists, musicians and other creators from all over the world. The NOMMO awards presentation which was chaired by Sheree Renée Thomas, recognized works on speculative fiction by Africans who had the opportunity of presenting at, and witnessing the award ceremony being held outside Africa for the first time, and at a WorldCon.
In May 2021, the African Speculative Fiction Society, organizers of the award, released a longlist featuring more than 62 names, including Ben Okri, Ngugu Wa Thiongo and other notable griots. Writers like Pemi Aguda, Chinelo Onwualu, Dilman Dila, Eugen Bacon, Rafeeat Aliyu, Tobi Ogundiran and others had more one work nominated in the long list.
By June 2021, ASFS released the shortlist which shed several names previously mentioned, including the heavyweights. Below is the shortlist and the winners voted for by members of the African Speculative Fiction Society:
The Illube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction by an African
The death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi …(Winner)
Club Ded by Nikhil Singh
Soul Searching by Stephen Embleton
2021 Best Novella Award
The Awakening by David A. Atta
A Fledgling Abiba by Dilman Dila
Ife-ikokyu: The Tale of Imadeyunuagbon by Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald …(Winner)
The Silence of the Wilting Skin by Tlotlo Tsamaase
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
2021 Best Short Story Award
Rat and Finch are Friends by Innocent Chizaram Ilo …(Winner)
Corialis by T L Huchu
The Bend of Water by Tiae Marie Beautement
Behind our Irises by Tlotlo Tsamaase …(Winner)
The Goatkeeper’s Harvest by Tobi Ogundiran
2021 Graphic Novel Shortlist
Alex by Anna Mbale (writer) and Mwiche Songolo (artist) — Black Hut Comics
Blacksheep by Mwiche Songolo (writer & artist) — Black Hut Comics
Meanwhile… by Quinto Collab (various writers & artists) MaThoko’s Books, an imprint of GALA
Queer archive
Moongirls by Nana Akosua Hansen (writer) AnimaxFYB Studios (art) — Ghana Drama Queens
Collective …(Winner)
New Men by Murewa Ayodele (writer) and Dotun Akande (artist) — Collectible Comics
Titan by Mazuba Chimbeza (writer & artist) — Black Hut Comics
The awards had financial incentives attached: Best Novel — $1000, Best Novella — $500, Best Short Story — $500, and Best Comic/Graphic Novel — $1000.
Ps: Nominations for Nommos 2022 will begin on the 1 st of January 2022. All works to be considered should be sent to info@africansfs.com. Visit https://www.africansfs.com/home for more information.
