2025 Nommo Award Winners announced at Aké Arts and Book Festival

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Lagos, Nigeria/ London, UK – The African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS) is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Nommo Awards, revealed yesterday during the Opening Ceremony of the prestigious Aké Arts and Book Festival in Lagos, Nigeria. The ceremony brought together an international audience of writers, readers, artists, and cultural leaders to celebrate the best speculative fiction by African creators.

The Nommo Awards, now in their eighth year, recognise excellence in four categories: Best Novel, Best Novella, Best Short Story, and Best Graphic Novel.

2025 Nommo Award Winners:

  • Ilube Award for Best Novel: Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase (Erewhon Books, 2024)
  • Best Novella: Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (Tor Publishing Group, 2024)
  • Best Short Story: From Across Time by Chisom Umeh (Clarkesworld, 2024)
  • Best Graphic Novel: Celestial Eyes by John Uche and Francis (The Machine Publishing, 2024)

“These works represent some of the most innovative, daring, and visionary storytelling coming out of Africa and the African diaspora,” said Muna Khogali representing The African Speculative Fiction Society. “To experience their recognition live at Aké Arts and Book Festival, in front of a passionate and engaged audience was profoundly moving. Our creators are redefining global speculative fiction.”

The 2025 awards follow a year of increased international visibility for African speculative fiction, including ASFS programming at Worldcon Seattle, new academic collaborations such as the Applied African SF program with Imperial College London, University of Nairo, Vector Magazine and the International Black Speculative Writing Festival, alongside the Society’s transition into a Community Interest Company (CIC) enabling greater long-term support for writers, artists, and readers.

As part of its mission, ASFS runs professional development workshops, fosters publishing and research collaborations, maintains a growing database of African speculative fiction, and continues to expand its membership and outreach across Africa and the diaspora.