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CollectionAges 9–12Chapter Books

Onyeka

A universe by Tolá Okogwu

An Afrofuturist superhero trilogy where a British-Nigerian girl's Afro hair holds psychokinetic power. Thrilling, culturally rich adventure about pride, courage and belonging.

  • Series

    1
  • Books

    3
  • Best for

    9–12
  • Status

    Complete

At a glance

Primary creator
Tolá Okogwu
First book
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun · 2022
Tone
Exciting, Adventurous, Suspenseful, Inspirational
Overall sensitivity
Moderate

The shape of it

The shape of this universe.

Onyeka is Tolá Okogwu's Afrofuturist superhero trilogy for 9–12s, a fast, big-hearted middle-grade adventure that fuses Black Panther-style world-building with X-Men team dynamics. A British-Nigerian girl discovers that her thick, gravity-defying Afro channels psychokinetic powers, and is swept to the Academy of the Sun, a dazzling solar-powered school in Nigeria for gifted young Solari. Across three books she trains, uncovers a conspiracy at the Academy's heart, becomes a fugitive, and finally grows into the leader her friends need. Rich in Nigerian culture and centred on Black hair as a source of pride, the series celebrates identity, courage and belonging while never losing its thrilling, powered-up pace.

An Afrofuturist superhero trilogy where a British-Nigerian girl's Afro hair holds psychokinetic power. Thrilling, culturally rich adventure about pride, courage and belonging.

Primary themes

Tone palette

  • Exciting
  • Adventurous
  • Suspenseful
  • Inspirational

The series

One way in.

Cultural footprint

A shelf of evidence.

What Onyeka has done

  • Major award winner
  • Bestseller

Cultural ubiquity

3/ 5

Well-known to people who know the room.

Sensitivity

Moderate, and collection-wide.

ModerateCollection-wide

Content notes

  • Absent parent

Across the collection

All 3 books.

About the creator

Tolá Okogwu.

Tolá Okogwu

Author

Tolá Okogwu: author of the Afrofuturist Onyeka superhero trilogy and the warm, funny Bim Blake diaries — big-hearted, culturally rich stories about identity, courage and belonging for 9–12s.

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