The Nommo Awards for Speculative Fiction by Africans has published long list nominees in all four categories of the awards – novel, novella, short story and comics/graphic novels.

All titles were nominated by members of the African Speculative Fiction Society and were published in the calendar year 2018.  All authors in the comics/graphic novels category are Africans, with the exception of a few collaborators.

The Nommo Awards recognise works of speculative fiction by Africans. This covers science fiction, fantasy, stories of magic and traditional belief, alternative histories, horror and strange stuff that might not fit in anywhere. All of these tasty ingredients that cook in a wonderful broth that is comics and graphic novels.

The shortlist from which winners will then be voted for by ASFS members will be announced on 14^th May 2019.  A three-month reading and voting period will then follow.

The 170 members of the African Speculative Fiction Society (ASFS)  first nominate and then vote for winners of the Awards ASFS website. ASFS members are published writers, editors, filmmakers or illustrators who are Africans.

Last year, Kobe Offei and Setor Fiadzigbey’s Lake of Tears bagged the award for graphic novel of the year in an award ceremony during the Aké Arts and Book Festival in Abeokuta, Nigeria.  The Aké Arts and Book Festival has been the location of the awards ceremony of the NOMMOA Awards since it started.

NOMMO Awards for African Speculative Fiction 2019 Long List Announced: See Which African Comics Made It

Below are the Long List nominees in the graphic novel category.

1. Akissi: Tales of Mischief (Ivory Coast)

Synopsis

Poor Akissi! The neighborhood cats are trying to steal her fish, her little monkey Boubou almost ends up in a frying pan, and she’s nothing but a pest to her older brother Fofana. But Akissi is a true adventurer, and nothing scares her away from hilarious escapades in her modern African city.

Jump into the laugh-out-loud misadventures of Akissi in these girls-will-be-girls comics, based on author Margeurite Abouet’s childhood on the Ivory Coast.

Team

Marguerite Abouet (writer),  Mathieu Sapin (Illustrator), Judith Taboy (Translator), Marie Bédrune (Translator).

2. Black Panther, Long Live the King (USA)

Synopsis

As the Black Panther and an Avenger, T’Challa has had to save the world time and again — but those duties pale in comparison to his responsibilities as king of Wakanda. As the nation rebuilds in the wake of revolution, T’Challa finds his people besieged by a massive monster tearing through the country, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake!

Team

Nnedi Okorafor (writer) and Andre Lima Araujo (cover artist), Marvel Comics (publisher)

3. Eru (Comic Republic, Nigeria)

Synopsis

Erick Kukoyi lives a life unlike any other as the vessel of the entity of fear. He holds the power to wake your worst nightmares and fears. Over centuries old with a thousand names and a thousand forms, the people of this land call him Eru.

Team

Ozo Ezeogu (artist & writer), Tobe Ezeogu (graphic design, digital edits), Comic Republic (publisher)

Read Eru free here.

4. Kwezi (South Africa)

Synopsis

Kwezi is a young city dweller who discovers he has super human abilities. His journey starts off as a self serving narcissist who only uses his abilities to further his social status. This is until he is tracked down by three individuals who exhibit similar evolutionary talents. It’s not long until Kwezi is confronted with the truth about his powers and is faced with an important decision; to carry out his life serving no particular purpose, or joining his new companions on a journey to discover who he really is and what he is destined to be.

Team

Mohale Mashigo (writer), Loyiso Mkize &, Clyde Beech (illustrators), New Africa Books (publisher)

5. Karmzah (Ghana)

Synopsis

Karmzah is a physically challenged superheroine with cerebral palsy whose quest is to fight bad guys in Africa and beyond. The animation or comic character was created by Farida Bedwei and the Leti Arts team from Ghana. The comic series is found on Afrocomic app on the Google Play Store.The comic character was created in other to celebrate World Cerebral Palsy Day.

Team

Farida Bedwei (writer), Ravi Allotey (artist), Leti Arts (publisher)

6. Malika – Warrior Queen (Nigeria)

Synopsis

Set in fifteenth-century West Africa, Malika: Warrior Queen Part One follows the exploits of Queen and military commander Malika, who struggles to keep the peace in her ever-expanding empire. Growing up as a prodigy, Malika inherited the crown from her father in the most unusual of circumstances, splitting the kingdom of Azzaz in half. After years of civil war, Malika was able to unite all of Azzaz, expanding it into one of the largest empires in all of West Africa. But expansion would not come without its costs.

Enemies begin to rise within her council, and Azzaz grabbed the attention of one of the most feared superpowers the world has ever known: the Ming Dynasty. As Malika fights to win the clandestine war within the walls of her empire, she must now turn her attention to an indomitable and treacherous foe with plans to vanquish her entire people.

Team

Roye Okupe (creator. writer), Chima Kalu (pencils, inks), Raphael Kazeem (colors), Mohammed Agbadi (front cover), Godwin Akpan (back cover) & YouNeek Studios (publisher).

Buy and read Malika – Warrior Queen

7. Rovik (Kenya)

Synopsis

The Empire has staked its claim on many planetary systems as it advances on its quest to rule the universe. One of these planets is the planet Dukongo, famous for its vast Agrocite deposits, now ever more valuable due to the construction of the Deathstar. The Empire has stripped the environment bare for the resource, leaving the once Vibrant Planet a shadow of its former self. With only one mine left in operation, there has been a mass migration to the last the mining city of Brazzaville. Those who can opt to leave the Planet.

Rovik, our young warrior, has left his home city of Kinshaza where the largest Agrocite mine has just been shut down leaving most of the population jobless. We join him and his lemari called ‘Pazuzu’ as they make their way to the last mining city of Brazzaville, hoping to find work as a guard again at the last functioning mine on the Planet. On his way through the Dukongo jungle he meets other migrants also on their way to the City that results in an interesting encounter

Team

Yvonne Wanyoike (writer), Kendi Mberia (artist), Salim Busuru (Creator and Artist), Avandu (publisher).

Read Rovik for free here.

8. Shaka Rising – A Legend of the Warrior Prince (South Africa)

Synopsis

A time of bloody conflict and great turmoil. The slave trade expands from the east African coast. Europeans spread inland from the south. And one young boy is destined to change the future of southern Africa. This retelling of the Shaka legend explores the rise to power of a shrewd young prince who must consolidate a new kingdom through warfare, mediation, and political alliances to defend his people against the expanding slave trade.

Team

Luke W. Molver (artist and writer), Malcolm O’Connor (writer) & Story Press Africa (publisher).

Buy Shaka Rising – Legend of the Warrior Prince.

9. Shuri – Search for Black Panther (USA, Nigeria)

Synopsis

Following in the footsteps of the Black Panther! The world fell in love with her in the movie. Now, the Black Panther’s techno-genius sister launches her own adventures — written by best-selling Afrofuturist author Nnedi Okorafor and drawn by Eisner-nominated artist Leonardo Romero! The Black Panther has disappeared, lost on a mission in space. And in his absence, everyone’s looking at the next in line for the throne. But Shuri is happiest in a lab, surrounded by gadgets of her own creation. She’d rather be testing gauntlets than throwing them. But a nation without a leader is a vulnerable one — and Shuri may have to choose between Wakanda’s welfare and her own.

Team

Nnedi Okorafor (writer), Leonardo Romero (artist), Joe Sabino (lettering), Jodie Bellaire (color artist), Samuel Spratt (cover artist) & Marvel Comics (publisher).

Buy Shuri here.

10. Tatashe (Nigeria)

Synopsis

“Set in a world of food called Alomnia. It follows the adventures of Tatashe as she makes new friends, fights strange creatures and tries to find her long lost master in a world where food is all around you. Filled with Nigerian pidgin slangs and food, this comic will make your mouth water and your stomach growl.  I mean, the name of the main character, Tatashe, is what red bell pepper is called in Yoruba language”. – BookRiot.com.

Team

Cassandra Mark (creator, colourist and writer), Tobe Max Ezeogu(Artist) & Comic Republic (publisher).

11.  Under the Sun (Nigeria)

Synopsis

In Zamia, a fictional country in Central Africa, persons with albinism have been forced to migrate to the island of Kurume in the middle of Lake Tanganyika due to persistent attacks by people and their witch-doctors who use their body parts for rituals. They live peacefully on Kurume with government approval and protection, until all hell broke loose. Civil war ravaged the land after the president was assassinated and now, survival is paramount.

Team

Austine Osas (writer & creator), Abiodun Awodele (writer), Yusuf Temitope (art), Nsia Ndidi (colours & cover art) and Peter Daniel (lettering), Peda Studios (publisher).

Read Under the Sun free here.

Congratulations to all the nominees. ? May the best comic/graphic novel win at the NOMMO Awards!