Nommo Award

The Nommo Award is a literary award presented by ''The African Speculative Fiction Society''. The award is named after the Nommo. The awards recognize works of speculative fiction by Africans, defined as "science fiction, fantasy, stories of magic and traditional belief, alternative histories, horror and strange stuff that might not fit in anywhere else." The Nommo Awards have four categories for best Novel, Novella, Short Story, and Graphic Novel.

Winners and short list nominees

Novel

The Novel Award is also known as ''The Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African''.

Novella

Short Story

Graphic Novel

The African Speculative Fiction Society

The African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS) promotes science fiction and fantasy by Africans. Its 58 charter members include writers, editors, artists and publishers.

Members nominate and vote on the Nommo Awards for African Speculative Fiction.

“The ASFS will provide a place where writers, readers, and scholars can come together to find information, connect with each other, and act as watchdogs for their collective interests.” Chinelo Onwualu, co-founder of Omenana

Established August 15, 2016 with 58 charter members, the ASFS and its Nommo Awards is a body for African science fiction/fantasy professionals.

The 2016 charter members

The 58 charter members of 2016.

# A. Igoni Barrett
# Afolabi Muheez Ashiru
# Amatesiro Dore
# Andrew C. Dakalira
# Ayodele Arigbabu
# Biram Mboob
# Catherine Shepherd
# Cat Corona Hellisen
# Chad Rossouw
# Mazi Chigozie Nwonwu
# Chikodili Emelumadu
# Chinelo Onwaulu
# Clifton Cachuaga
# Dave de Burgh
# Dayo Ntwari
# Denise Kavuma
# Diane Awerbuck
# Dilman Dila
# Ekari Mbvundula
# Ellah Wakatama Allfrey
# Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso
# IfeOluwa Nihinlola
# Ivor Hartmann
# Jason Mykl Snyman
# Jekwu Ozoemene
# Joan de la Haye
# Joe Machina
# John Barigye
# Hannah Onoguwe
# Kiprop Kumutai
# Lauren Beukes
# Mame Diene
# Awards Subcommittee
# Mandisi Nkomo
# Masimba Musodza
# Margaret Hegottir
# Mehul Gohil
# Mia Aderne
# Moses Kilolo
# Muthi Nhlema
# Nerine Dorman
# Nick Wood
# Nikhil Singh
# Ntone Edjabe
# Oshoke Irene
# Pemi Aguda
# Rafee Aliyu
# Richard Oduor Oduku
# Samuel Kolawole
# Shadreck Chikoti
# Sofia Samatar
# Sophie B Alal
# Stephen Embleton
# Suyi Davies
# Tade Thompson
# Terh Agbedeh
# Tiseki Tich Chilima
# Wole Talabi

Logo design

The Nommo Awards logo and ASFS logos were designed in 2016 by Stephen Embleton. The logo is an image of the Nommo in Dogon cosmology, twins who on land can take the form of fish walking on their tails.

"The Nommo are mythological ancestral spirits (sometimes referred to as deities) worshipped by the Dogon people of Mali. The word Nommos is derived from a Dogon word meaning "to make one drink." The Nommos are usually described as amphibious, hermaphroditic, fish-like creatures. Folk art depictions of the Nommos show creatures with humanoid upper torsos, legs/feet, and a fish-like lower torso and tail. The Nommos are also referred to as “Masters of the Water”, “the Monitors”, and "the Teachers”. Nommo can be a proper name of an individual, or can refer to the group of spirits as a whole. For purposes of this article “Nommo” refers to a specific individual and “Nommos” is used to reference the group of beings."

References

{{science fiction
Science fiction awards
African literature
Fantasy awards
Africanfuturism
Speculative fiction awards
African literary awards
Awards established in 2016
Novella awards
Short story awards
Comics awards