Walter Dinjos Disability Award Winners

Announcing the winners of the inaugural edition of the Emeka Walter Dinjos Memorial Award For Disability In Speculative Fiction

The finalists were announced in Dec 2022 and the award was meant to be presented in 2023. But unfortunately, immigration issues, incarceration, and subsequent grave illness that nearly claimed my life, delayed it.

Disabled Writer Category Joint Winner

Dare Segun Falowo, for Sonskins (Baffling 1/1/21) and Seanan McGuire, for “Treatment Plan” (Vital)

The other finalists in the category are

Jaye Viner, for “Cannibalism in the Inhuman Age”(Drabblecast 3/4/21)

Christine Lucas, for “Echoes of a Broken Mind” (Future SF 12/22/21)

Disability Representing Works Category Winner is

Justin C. Key, for “The Algorithm Will See You Now” (Vital)

The other finalists are

P.H. Low, for “The Loneliness of Former Constellations” (Strange Horizons 8/9/21)

Jennifer Lee Rossman, for “The Steel Magnolia Metaphor” (Escape Pod 5/7/21)

McKinley Valentine, for “The Code for Everything” (Fantasy 3/1/21)

Tabatha Wood, for “Long Drop” (Seeds)

The winner of each category was to receive the sum of $250. The winer of the disability representing category Justin C. Key has, and Dare Segun Falowo and Seanan McGuire, joint winners in the disabled writers category shared the $250 price for that category, and got $150 each. Each of the finalists listed, got the token sum of $50. Marissa Lingen, a former finalist in the Disabled Writers category withdrew from consideration, and McKinley Valentine donated the $50 token sum, back to the award to assist in operating costs. We offer our thanks for that. All monies have been disbursed to the winners and finalists.

Wole Talabi was a co-sponsor of the award, to the tune of $200

I regret to announce though, that this will be the first, final and only edition of the award. Unfortunately, my health and other challenges have made me unable to continue it. I do hope though that we will continue to value disabled people and their creative works, especially those operating from the margins, and places that make their existence and creation even more difficult. Anyone else who wants to take this up or set up an endeavor like this is highly encouraged to and I’ll strive to render any assistance I can. So feel free to reach out. 

Thanks to Mazi Nwonwu of Omenana, Lezli Robyn of Caezik Books, ML Clark, Ross Showalter for assistances rendered, and all who were a part of this.

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki