On the night of February 14, 2026, one of the most celebrated voices in African speculative fiction nearly lost his life — and came within inches of permanent paralysis.

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki — the first African-born Black author ever to win a Nebula Award, and a winner of the World Fantasy Award, British Fantasy Award, and two Nommo Awards — was struck by an out-of-control delivery vehicle while walking near Reddington Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos. The rider slammed into him at full speed, launching him into the air and onto the pavement, then continued forward and struck the woman walking beside him before finally stopping.

When doctors finally examined him — after a nine-hour ordeal without medical attention — they delivered alarming news: Ekpeki had sustained a spinal fracture. The orthopaedic surgeon told him plainly that had the injury been even slightly worse, he would have faced permanent paralysis, lifelong deformity, or chronic debilitating pain.

What followed the accident made everything worse.

After lying injured on the roadside for hours, the company's supervisor eventually arrived — and his first concern was retrieving the motorcycle. When Ekpeki, in pain, demanded medical assistance, the supervisor asked what his "means of mobility" was. When Ekpeki understandably lost his composure, the supervisor threatened him. Ekpeki sat in the delivery company's office for another five hours — fractured spine, blood pressure spiking dangerously, having not eaten or taken medication for his bipolar disorder and hypertension all day — before anyone helped him.

A full nine hours after the accident, he finally received medical care.

The road to recovery is long — and costly.

His orthopaedic surgeon has prescribed six to eight weeks of complete bed rest. During this time, Ekpeki cannot work, cannot write, cannot fulfill the professional obligations that sustain his livelihood. For an independent author and publisher based in Nigeria, that income loss is devastating.

The medical costs from the accident — hospital fees, orthopedic consultation, ongoing care for his spine, medications for his blood pressure and mental health — have created a financial burden that he should not have to bear alone.

Who is Ekpeki, and why does this matter?

I am Shahid Mahmud, Publisher and CEO of Arc Manor, and Ekpeki is one of my authors. I have published his work through Arc Manor's imprints and watched him become one of the most important writers working in speculative fiction today, particularly in bringing a much needed focus on fiction marginalized communities and non-Western cultures.

He has dedicated his career not just to writing extraordinary fiction, but to building the infrastructure for African speculative fiction — founding anthologies, mentoring writers, establishing awards for disability representation in the genre.

We are raising $3,000 to help cover Ekpeki's immediate medical expenses and support him through his recovery period.

Ekpeki has survived what could have been a fatal night. Help make sure his recovery is one fewer thing he has to worry about.

----------------------------------------------------------------

This GoFundMe is organized by Shahid Mahmud, Publisher & CEO of Arc Manor Inc., publishers of Galaxy's Edge magazine, Caezik SF & Fantasy and Phoenix Pick.