The African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS) has announced the shortlist for the 2026 Nommo Awards, recognising works of speculative fiction by Africans across four categories.
The shortlist was announced live at LACON V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), with 20 works by 24 authors and creators selected for the awards for Best Novel, Novella, Short Story and Graphic Novel.
Nnedi Okorafor receives two nominations: her novel Death of the Author is shortlisted for the Ilube Award for Best Novel, while One Way Witch is nominated in the Novella category. T.L. Huchu also receives two nominations, for Secrets of the First School in the Best Novel category and “The Cancellation of Michael Z” in Short Story.
Ilube Award for Best Novel
The Best Novel shortlist comprises six works:
Nkereuwem Albert — The Bone River
Marvellous Michael Anson — Firstborn of the Sun
M.H. Ayinde — A Song of Legends Lost
Nnedi Okorafor — Death of the Author
Paul Olisaeloka Anozie — Black Navel
T.L. Huchu — Secrets of the First School
Novella
Three works were shortlisted for the Novella award:
Moses Ose Utomi — The Memory of the Ogisi
Nnedi Okorafor — One Way Witch
Tobi Ogundiran — At the Fount of Creation
Short Story
The six shortlisted short stories are:
Adelehin Ijasan — “A Heap of Petrified Gods”
Kevin Rigathi — “If Memory Serves”
Plangdi Neple — “Full, Empty Houses”
Moustapha Mbacké Diop — “Apostasy in Fruit”
Somto Ihezue — “We Begin Where Infinity Ends”
T.L. Huchu — “The Cancellation of Michael Z”
Graphic Novel
The Graphic Novel category features five collaborative and solo projects:
John Uche and Francis Goodluck — Celestial Eyes Vol. 2: The Second Cycle
Owoade Ifeoluwa — Hounds and Jackals
Gerald Vreden and Hakeem Rafai — Rise of The Mafu #1: The Awakening
Juni Ba — The Fables of Erlking Wood
John Uche et al. (Stone Otor, Francis Goodluck, Lord Blue, Jeremiah Abah and Gabriel Onche) — Worlds: A One-shot Anthology
The 2026 shortlist reflects the range of African speculative fiction across novels, novellas, short stories and graphic storytelling.
The Nommo Awards recognise speculative fiction by Africans, including science fiction, fantasy, stories of magic and traditional belief, alternative histories, horror and other forms of speculative fiction. ASFS members nominate the works and vote for the winners.
Voting for the 2026 awards opened on 31 August and will close on 1 November. The winners will be announced later this year at a ceremony during the 14th Aké Arts & Book Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.
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