ABOUT NOMMOS

"The Nommos are long overdue - an African SF prize for Africans by Africans that honours our stories and how we choose to tell them. " Lauren Beukes, author of Moxyland and Zoo City

The Nommo Awards recognise works of speculative fiction by Africans. We mean science fiction, fantasy, stories of magic and traditional belief, alternative histories, horror and strange stuff that might not fit in anywhere else.

Members of the ASFS nominate works and vote for winners here on the website.

WATCH: The official launch of the Nommo Awards and ASFS at the 2016 Aké Arts & Book Festival, with Chinelo Onwualu, Shadreck Chikoti and Geoff Ryman.

Video courtesy of Aké Arts & Book Festival

The Nommos will be formally announced this coming November 2017 at the Aké Festival in Nigeria. Nominations are scheduled to open after that here on this website.

The first award-giving ceremony will be held at Aké Festival in Nigeria, November 2017. The aim after that is to alternate the location of the awards ceremony between West and East Africa.

The categories are:

  • The Ilube Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African – 1000 USD prize,

  • The Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novella by an African – 500 USD

  • The Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Short Story by an African – 500 USD

  • The Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Graphic Novel by Africans – 1000 USD to be shared.

We have prize money for four years thanks to our benefactor Mr Tom Ilube.

"Science fiction is important because it looks ahead to African futures. Fantasy and fiction based on traditional tales are important because they link us back to our forebears. Both are important for African development. I wanted to make sure that the explosion of African science fiction gets the recognition it deserves." Mr Tom Ilube.

We have welcoming and inclusive definition of who is an African that includes children of an African parent. Read more about eligibility here.

For more detailed description of the Awards and their aims and how they work, click here.

Are you an African with two or more works published or produced – find out more about how to join the ASFS.

The Awards still have transport, publicity, and software costs. Find out how to donate money to help the Awards get the profile they deserve.

Download a PDF of our leaflet.