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Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor has won her first-ever NAACP Image Awards in the category of Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction for her novel Death of the Author.
The award was announced during the first night of the 57th NAACP Image Awards virtual pre-show, which highlights achievements in literary and creative categories.
For a writer celebrated globally for her groundbreaking contributions to speculative fiction, this recognition carries special significance.
While Okorafor has previously won prestigious honors such as the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards, this marks her first NAACP Image Award win.
Established in 1967, the NAACP Image Awards celebrate outstanding achievements and positive portrayals of people of color across literature, film, television, music, and other creative fields.
What makes the award particularly meaningful is its membership-based voting system, reflecting strong support from the Black community.
Death of the Author tells the story of Zelu, a disabled Nigerian-American writer who often feels like an outsider within her large, traditional family. Unlike her relatives, who pursue conventional careers in medicine and law, Zelu is deeply committed to her writing.
After losing her university job and receiving yet another rejection from a publisher on the same day as her sister’s extravagant wedding, she decides to write a story purely for herself.
The result is “Rusted Robots,” a far-future science fiction epic set in a world where androids and artificial intelligence battle amid the ruins of human civilization.
What begins as a personal creative escape unexpectedly propels Zelu into literary fame. As the fictional book gains massive popularity, her life changes dramatically.
The novel explores themes of authorship, identity, family expectations, fame, and the complex relationship between a writer and her work.
One of the unique aspects of Death of the Author is its layered storytelling. Readers experience both Zelu’s personal journey and the unfolding sci-fi narrative of “Rusted Robots.”
The novel moves between Chicago, Lagos, and distant futuristic settings, blending intimate family drama with sweeping speculative fiction. The result is a multi-dimensional story that examines what it means for a creation to take on a life of its own.
Okorafor, widely regarded as a pioneer of Africanfuturism, has long centered African culture and mythology in her work.
She is the acclaimed author of the Binti series, Who Fears Death, Akata Witch, and Lagoon. She also coined the terms Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism to define her literary approach, which draws directly from African traditions rather than Western frameworks.
Despite her impressive list of accolades, this NAACP Image Award represents a milestone moment. It underscores the cultural resonance of her work within the Black diaspora and affirms her impact as a storyteller who consistently pushes boundaries.
With Death of the Author, Okorafor has once again demonstrated her ability to merge deeply personal narratives with expansive speculative worlds.
Her win at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards not only celebrates a single novel but also honors a career dedicated to redefining the possibilities of African-centered science fiction.
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