Akata Witch

Cower in fear for the witches are here!

Throughout mankind’s history, this was the predominate image of witches: evil, impure, nasty creatures. Anyone anywhere could get accused of being one and, with lethal tests being the only way to prove your innocence, it was often a death sentence. Even today, people continue to be executed for witchcraft and sorcery in countries like Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the accused tend to be less of the magical sort, and more of just an inconvenience to the accuser. Whether it be the confident, outspoken woman, or the hard-working domestic charging their employer with sexual assault, witchcraft was and still is frequently used as an excuse to silence women. The archetype of the witch thus stems from the victimization of women, representing all that men fear they could become. At the same time, however, they represent women empowerment, their actions showing strength independent from men. It’s no wonder, then, that societies came to fear witches, as they were perceived to be a threat to the patriarchy.

In the modern day, witches, at least in literature, have evolved into various different archetypes. There are the wicked, distasteful types with green skin, and the brilliant, good-natured types like Hermione Granger. It is in the latter end of the spectrum that the witches from Akata Witch fall under.

Written by Nnedi Okorafor in 2011, the novel follows the character Sunny as she learns about her powers. She is a young albino girl of roughly twelve. She is Nigerian by birth but raised in the United States. She enjoys soccer, a game considered to be a man’s sport at the time, and excels beyond her peers in school. She is also what they call a “free agent,” meaning she is the only one in her family to have powers. With all these conflicting identities, Sunny constantly finds herself struggling to find where she belongs. It is only through her witchcraft that she finally comes to terms with herself.

In the magical society built up in the book, it is often one’s flaws that are praised as one’s greatest strengths, for it is in this that they draw their power. For Sunny, this manifests in her albinism. Thus, the “flaw” that made her an outcast among her peers gives her strength in the magical realm. Similarly, despite the fact that she has little familial support as a free agent, her prowess in school allows her to keep up with her magical training. In a matter of months, she catches up to her friends, all of which have long known about their powers. These qualities place her in high standing in the magical world and champion the theme of self love, but Sunny’s actions pave the way for more than just her own self acceptance; rather, she sets the stage for the acceptance of all women.

As an avid soccer player, Sunny was not about to go sitting out when the annual game played out at the festival. However, girls are seldom allowed to play. Faced with higher standards than even the boys on the team, Sunny conquered the challenges before her by not only playing on the team, but also by getting placed in a pivotal position. In fact, like her albinism, Sunny uses her gender to her advantage, scoring a goal right off the back by shocking the other team. Because of her actions, many other girls plan to play next year, recognizing the opportunities that await them should they only stand and fight.

Personally, I can't help but admire Sunny and the women like her in real life. Despite, or perhaps because of her struggles and yes, her weaknesses, Sunny finds not only strength and independence, but also friends and acceptance through her witchcraft. So, while she navigates this unfamiliar world, she demonstrates that one’s perceived weaknesses can be an asset, that one’s identification need not be binary, and that opportunities may only come when one chooses to act. It is in this empowerment that Sunny’s journey reflects that of women and witches throughout time, for as she steps away from society’s boundaries, she eventually finds liberty, even though others may be against it at first. As a witch, she finds power within herself; as a women, she proves she is not to be trifled with. Try not to get in her way.