Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga is allergic to place. She writes black speculative fiction. Her work has reflected on migrant experiences with the help of a lion goddess, tornado auntie, magical fish and the occasional ghost. Her short stories have been published in GigaNotoSaurus, Augur Magazine, Fantasy Magazine, FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, demos journal, Selene Quarterly Magazine, Apparition Lit, Djed Press, Underground Writers, and Jalada Africa, among others. They have also appeared in anthologies such as Africa Risen and super / natural: art and fiction for the future. Learn how to pronounce Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga.
Shortlisted works
‘Fell Our Selves’ in 2023 Fiction Shortlist for Woollahra Digital Literary Award
‘Tornadoes, Grief, and Poutine’ in the Best Young Adult Short Story category of the Aurealis Awards 2022
‘What Name Can I Grab?’ in Stringybark Stories Short Story Award 2021
‘Fell Our Selves’ in Deborah Cass Prize for Writing in 2018
‘A World Without Oranges’ in Monash Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing in 2018.
Recommended reading lists and honorable mentions
‘Fell Our Selves’ in The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction 2023 Recommended Reading List
‘Fell Our Selves’ in Nerds of a Feather 2024 Hugo Award Recommendation List
‘Fell Our Selves’ in 2023 Locus Magazine Recommended Reading List
‘Tornadoes, Grief, and Poutine’ is an honorable mention for The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction 2021-2022
Reviews
Praise for ‘Fell Our Selves’ in review published in Aurealis #160
Praise for ‘Fell Our Selves’ in review by Charles Payseur in Locus Magazine
Praise for ‘Saviour of the Light Market’ and ‘Housewarming for a Lion Goddess’ in Arley Sorg’s Lightspeed Magazine review of Africa Risen
Praise for ‘Housewarming for a Lion Goddess’ in Strange Horizons review of Africa Risen
Praise for ‘Housewarming for a Lion Goddess’ in A Universe in Words review of Africa Risen
Praise for ‘Housewarming for a Lion Goddess’ in Blair Views review post, Africa Risen: a schowcase of African speculative fiction
Praise for ‘Housewarming for a Lion Goddess’ in The Quill to Live review post, Africa Risen - A Towering Display
Praise for ‘Saviour of the Light Market’ in review by Charles Payseur in Quick Sip Reviews blog
‘Saviour of the Light Market’ in review by Paula Guran in Locus Magazine
Praise for ‘That Which Smells Bad’ in review by Charles Payseur in Quick Sip Reviews blog
Praise for ‘Who Defies the Watcher’ in review by Karen Burnham in Locus Magazine
Appearances
Can*Con 2024
World Fantasy Convention 2024
Nebula Conference 2024
Emerging Writers Reading Series, June 2024
Virtuous Con 2024
Brioxy | Sistah Scifi Book Club 2024
Speakeasy Reading Series November 2023
AugurCon Live 2023
Capital Letters February 2023
Literary Lineages panel at Muse Canberra 2022
National Young Writers Festival 2021 and 2020
Emerging Writers Festival 2019 and 2018.