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8th Nommo Awards 2025 Nominations now open
The 7th Nommo Awards 2024 ceremony took place at Glasgow 2024 - the 82nd World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and presented by some of the most exciting African writers; Tendai Huchu, Wole Talabi, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Nnedi Okorafor and sponsor of the awards Tom Ilube. Thank you to the Worldcon Dublin 2023, Worldcon Glasgow 2024 and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) for their financial support.
2024 Ilube Award for Best Speculative Fiction NOVEL by an African
Shigdi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi
Published by DAW (USA), Gollancz (UK), Masobe (Nigeria), 2023
Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering prayers of his few remaining believers to maintain his existence long enough to find his next drink. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes for him.
Together, they attempt to break free of his obligations and the restrictions that have bound him to his godhood and navigate the parameters of their new relationship in the shadow of her past. But the elder gods that run the Orisha spirit company have other plans for Shigidi, and they are not all aligned–or good.
From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the swanky rooftop bars of Singapore and the secret spaces of London, Shigidi and Nneoma will encounter old acquaintances, rival gods, strange creatures, and manipulative magicians as they are drawn into a web of revenge, spirit business, and a spectacular heist across two worlds that will change Shigidi’s understanding of himself forever and determine the fate of the Orisha spirit company.
WOLE TALABI is an engineer, writer, and editor from Nigeria, whose stories have appeared in Asimov’s, F&SF, Lightspeed and several other places. He has been a finalist for multiple awards, including the Nebula Award, the Jim Baen Memorial Award and the Locus Award, and he has won the prestigious Caine Prize as well as the Nommo Award. His work has been translated into Spanish, Norwegian, Chinese, Italian, Bengali, and French. In his spare time he likes scuba diving, elegant equations, and oddly shaped things. He currently lives and works in Australia.
Best Speculative Fiction NOVELLA by an African
Undulation by Stephen Embleton
Published in Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology, Android Press, 2023
A story of storytellers, of questioning the foundations of society, of mothers and their children, of finding your voice and finding the truth. “Undulation”, by Sauútiverse founding member Stephen Embleton, digs deep into the Sauúti creation myths and epic poems, and the people who tell them – the ruevaagi, custodians of knowledge.
Like African griots of old, they are tasked with telling the people the stories of themselves. But they are still under the sway of the empire of Zezépfeni, and can only tell the official version of events. Hmahein, a ruevaagi-in-training, travels the five worlds, spreading the stories of what happened, and performing them for her people. Soft power. Even though there is nothing soft about it. She finds herself on the planet Wiimb-ó, the wellspring of her world’s sound magic, and the place where the people of Sauúti have the strongest connection to the spirit-plane as their two spirit moons manifest in the sky.
STEPHEN EMBLETON was born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is now a resident in Oxford, since being an academic visitor to the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford in 2022 through the James Currey Society and his then unpublished manuscript for Bones & Runes. His first short story was published in 2015 in "Imagine Africa 500" speculative fiction anthology. Stephen is one of the ten African writers making up the Sauúti Collective.
Best Speculative Fiction GRAPHIC NOVEL by an African - Joint Winners
Grimm's Assistant
by Mamode Ogbewele and artist Chigozie Amadi
Published by Mode Comics, 2023
WHAT IS DEATH? Nosa, a young Grim Reaper, ponders upon this question as he uses supernatural abilities to prevent the assassination of a little girl who is the key witness in a murder case. Will he succeed or find what he was not looking for?
He seeks to find the answers to a question that no one dares to ask in this Unique One Shot Comic.
MAMODE OGBEWELE is An Award Winning Comic Book Writer. He has written several comics such as Spirit Wars for Vortex Comics, Rekiyah for ICStudios and webcomics, including the short stories, Tradition, from the anthology by Myth Division titled Menagerie: Declassified Anthology, The Waker published in the 77 ANNUAL #1 by 77 Comics, and Ajiun from the anthology by Oneshi Press titled Destinations.
CHIGOZIE AMADI is an illustrator, artist, content writer, and social media manager. He is the author of several books including the Artists Well-being Handbook, Creating Connections, and Area Boy Clients. Chigozie is also founder of the Independent Creators Book Review platform (ICBR) – a space that encourages and promotes young and upcoming content writers and creators.
WindMaker volume 1
by Roye Okupe and artist Sunkanmi Akinboye
Colourist: Toyin Ajetunmobi; Cover Artist: Godwin Akpan
Published by Dark Horse Comics, 2022
The West African nation of Atala is thrust into an era of unrest and dysfunction after their beloved president turns vicious dictator. With the country on the brink of civil war, the WindMaker--an ancient hero of the Ataliansmysteriously returns in what appears to be an effort to save his people. The only problem is that his spirit is reincarnated into the last person anyone expects to helpthe president's head of security!
"Our mission is and always has been about empowering African creatives and storytelling." -Roye Okupe
ROYE OKUPE is an award-winning filmmaker, author, speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of YouNeek Studios where he writes, produces and directs animated productions, including the award-winning and critically acclaimed Malika – Warrior Queen Animated Short. Recognised as #5 on @venturesafrica 2016 list of 40 African innovators to watch, appeared on the New African Magazines’ 100 most influential Africans 2016 & 2017, and nominated for the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics 2021 and Story of the Year award at the Glyph Comic Awards 2020 for his follow up graphic novel Malika – Warrior Queen. In that same year, Roye signed a first of its kind, monumental 10-book deal with Dark Horse Comics.
SUNKANMI AKINBOYE is the Creative Director at Linebug Studios with over 20 years’ experience in the creative industry. He is credited with Windmaker, Whoopi Goldberg’s Change by DarkHorse Comics, Okiojo’s Chronicles and the award winning Malika animation short and graphic novel as lead artist amid various other capacities.
Best Speculative Fiction SHORT STORY by an African
A Name is a Plea and a Prophecy
by Gabrielle Emem Harry
Strange Horizons, 2023
GABRIELLE EMEM HARRY is a Nigerian speculative fiction writer. She was selected as a 2023 LLEAA Fellow, shortlisted for the 2024 Writivism Short Story Prize and her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Strange Horizons, Solarpunk, Apparition, Omenana, Isele and more. Her favourite stories are the ones that feel like dreams.
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