Nommo Awards

The Nommo Awards are literary awards presented by The African Speculative Fiction Society. 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: Best Novel, Novella, Short Story, and Graphic Novel. They are named after the Nommo, ancestral spirits from Dogon cosmology who take a variety of forms, including appearing on land as fish, walking on their tails.

The African Speculative Fiction Society
The African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS) promotes science fiction and fantasy by Africans. Its members include writers, editors, artists and publishers. Established August 15, 2016 with 58 charter members, the ASFS and its Nommo Awards is a body for African science fiction/fantasy professionals.

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"

The 2016 charter members
The African Speculative Fiction Society 58 original 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 Onwualu

• # 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

• # Mandisi Nkomo

• # Margaret Hegottir

• # Masimba Musodza

• # Mehul Gohil

• # Mia Aderne

• # Moses Kilolo

• # Muthi Nhlema

• # Nerine Dorman

• # Nick Wood

• # Nikhil Singh

• # Ntone Edjabe

• # Oshoke Irene

• # Pemi Aguda

• # Rafee Aliyu

• # Ray Mwihaki

• # Richard Oduor Oduku

• # Samuel Kolawole

• # Shadreck Chikoti

• # Sofia Samatar

• # Sophie Alal

• # Stephen Embleton

• # Suyi Davies Okungbowa

• # 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.'"

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