Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch is often compared to Harry Potter. While there are similarities, writing Akata Witch off as just “the Nigerian Harry Potter” is an unfair and overgeneralized analysis of Okafor’s novel. Both books do share similarities. The protagonists are both children who walk into a world of magic. They both have physical traits that differentiate them from the rest of the charactersー in Harry Potter it’s the scar, and in Akata Witch it’s the fact that Sunny is albino. The friend dynamic in both novels is also similar, with a group of three characters going on adventures and defeating some evil.
Despite these similarities, it is unfair to label Akata Witch as nothing more than “the Nigerian Harry Potter.” Akata Witch is a unique fantasy novel based in a culture that doesn’t normally receive a lot of attention in the fantasy genre.
Akata Witch also focuses a lot on Sunny's identity. Throughout the entire novel Sunny struggles with “otherness.” Her albinism makes her stand out and prevents her from playing soccer int he sun, moving from another country separates her from the people who have lived there their whole lives, and learning she has magical abilities separates her even more. The novel explores Sunny’s journey to discover herself, and to realize that being herself is essential to her fulfilling her destiny.
All of the central characters in Akata Witch exist to support the idea of staying true to yourself. All of them are in some way “others.” Orlu is ashamed of his dyslexia, Chichi and Sasha both accept their “otherness” but must learn to respond to it differently to become their best selves. Okorafor uses all of her characters to support her theme of self discovery and accepting yourself to become the best version of yourself.
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