Akata Witch

Orlu, one of the novel’s secondary protagonists, is a boy slightly older than Sunny. He is Sunny’s friend, a member of the Oha coven, and her eventual love interest in later novels in the series. Orlu is principled and interested in doing what is right, though he also tends to be cautious and respectful of tradition. Because of this, he is especially wary and suspicious of Sasha, who delights in breaking rules and taking risks. He sometimes can be judgmental, as when he thoughtlessly refers to Sasha using the derogatory word “akata,” offending Sunny (58). Orlu has a strong sense of responsibility, and he is frequently a character foil for both Sasha and Chichi, both of whom typically show less forethought and caution. By contrast, Sasha, Chichi, and Sunny’s more progressive notions of gender emphasize Orlu’s traditional—and occasionally sexist—perspective.

As a Leopard Person, Orlu’s natural ability is to undo bad juju, which is important at several critical times in the narrative. According to Anatov, Orlu’s natural ability is especially powerful because it derives from his dyslexia, since what are considered “disabilities” in Lamb society can result in stronger Leopard talents. Orlu’s ability means that he often defuses tense or dangerous situations involving juju. But because of his compassionate, humble orientation toward the world, he frequently resolves difficult problems without using juju, too. For example, by asking a question, Orlu convinces Jibaku to let Sunny speak, instead of continuing to beat her up. Later, when the group struggles to get inside Taiwo’s treetop hut, Sasha and Chichi show a giant Miri Bird contempt, but Orlu’s respectful attitude convinces it to carry them on its back. Orlu gravitates toward peacemaking, mediation, and caretaking.

Chichi, another secondary protagonist, is Orlu’s neighbor and a member of the Oha coven. Her exact age is unknown, although she is approximately the same age as Sunny, Orlu and Sasha. Chichi is bold, outspoken, and brave. She has a trickster personality, and she enjoys making provocative comments to get a reaction from others. She has a tendency to speak her mind and can be blunt. When Sunny first meets her, she finds Chichi to be rude and off-putting. However, as they come to know each other better, Chichi becomes one of Sunny’s best friends. Chichi is especially patient and thorough in her efforts to help Sunny learn more about her Leopard Person identity. Chichi teaches Sunny how to use her spirit face to cross the bridge to Leopard Knocks, and even allows herself to be vulnerable when she shows Sunny her own spirit face. Chichi does not attend school, and Anatov observes that, like Sasha, she would do poorly in a traditional Lamb school setting because she would be seen as disrespectful. Nevertheless, she has an exceptional, photographic memory and can recall everything she reads.

Chichi’s confidence in herself can be both her weakness and her strength. In Abuja, to impress another student, she rashly calls up a masquerade, dismissing Orlu’s concerns by insisting “I know what I’m doing” (276). When the masquerade goes poorly, she is punished but she never feels especially repentant. At other times, such as when Chichi defends them against a bush soul in Night Runner Forest, or when Chichi confronts Black Hat Otokoto, her confidence provides her with bravery and strength.