Akata Witch Terms

Akata literally translates to “bush animal,” but it’s used as a slur to refer to Black people born outside of Africa. read analysis of Akata

Chittim is Leopard currency. They’re curved metal bars in varying sizes, from the size of an orange to tiny pieces the size of a fingernail. Copper chittim are the most valuable, while gold chittim are… read analysis of Chittim

Ekpiri is the first level of education that Leopard People attain, as soon as they’ve gone through their initiation. read analysis of Ekpiri

Free agents like Sunny are Leopard People who don’t have a parent who’s also a Leopard Person. They’re at a disadvantage in Leopard society, as they often don’t learn they’re Leopard People until they’re young… read analysis of Free Agent

Lamb is the word Leopard People use to refer to non-magical people. It’s always capitalized. read analysis of Lamb

Leopard Knocks is the Leopard settlement closest to where Sunny, Sasha, Orlu, and Chichi live; it’s the West African headquarters for Leopard People. Juju protects it from curious Lambs. read analysis of Leopard Knocks

Magical people are referred to as Leopard People in the novel. In this context, "Leopard” is always capitalized. read analysis of Leopard Person

Masquerades are spirits that usually live in the wilderness, but Leopard People can summon them to the physical world. They look like Lamb masquerades, which are men dressed in beaded or raffia costumes with… read analysis of Masquerade

Mbawkwa is the second level of education for a Leopard Person to attain. Teenagers usually go through Mbawkwa in their late teens. read analysis of Mbawkwa

Ndibu is the third level of education for a Leopard Person to attain. It’s the equivalent of getting a Ph.D. read analysis of Ndibu

Nsibidi is a pictorial writing system that only a few Leopard People can read. The symbols wiggle, and if a person can see Nsibidi symbols moving, they can learn to read it. read analysis of Nsibidi

An Oha coven is a group of four Leopard People with specific characteristics (such as there being two male and two female members, one outsider, and one who is somehow inside-out), who work together to… read analysis of Oha Coven

Oku Akama is the fourth and final level of education that a Leopard Person can attain. Only a handful of Nigerian Leopard People have achieved it. read analysis of Oku Akama

Tungwas are soccer ball-sized orbs that float around in Leopard Knocks and other all-Leopard settlements—and explode when they feel like it, splattering bits of meat, hair, bone, and teeth everywhere when they do. Nobody… read analysis of Tungwa

A vévé is a magical drawing done with chalk powder. read analysis of Vévé

The wilderness is the spirit realm. read analysis of Wilderness