The African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS) has announced the finalists for the 2025 Nommo Awards, celebrating speculative fiction works by African writers published between January 2022 and December 2024.
The awards, considered the premier recognition of African speculative fiction, spotlight works across four categories: Novel (Ilube Award), Novella, Graphic Novel, and Short Story.
Since their launch, the Nommo Awards have helped elevate African fantasy, science fiction, and horror to global attention, with past winners including Nnedi Okorafor, Tade Thompson, and Masande Ntshanga. This year’s shortlists reflect the breadth of African speculative storytelling, featuring both acclaimed voices and emerging writers.
Best Novel Finalists (Ilube Award)
- The Smoke That Thunders by Erhu Kome
- Dakini Atoll by Nikhil Singh
- The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus by Umar Abubakar Sidi
- Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase
Novella Finalists
- The Year of Return by Ivana Akotowaa Ofori
- In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran
- Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
- The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar
Graphic Novel Finalists
- Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods by Dotun Akande & Murewa Ayodele
- Celestial Eyes by John Uche & Francis Goodluck
- You Have Ten Years by Murewa Ayodele, Mamode Ogbewele, Dotun Akande & Samuel Iwunze
Short Story Finalists
- “Bodies of Sand and Blood” by Plangdi Neple
- “From Across Time” by Chisom Umeh
- “The Future Ancients” by Mwenya Chikwa
- “Warning Notes from an Annihilator Machine” by Damilola Oyedotun
This year’s lists reveal a strong Nigerian presence across all four categories, alongside finalists from Botswana, South Africa, Ghana, Somalia, and Zambia. The shortlists also reflect the increasing international visibility of African speculative fiction, with several works already shortlisted for major awards such as the Nebula, Hugo, BSFA, and Locus.
The winners of the 2025 Nommo Awards will be announced later this year.
For more information on the 2025 Nommo Awards shortlist, click here.
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
