Previous
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 the least valuable.
Chittim Quotes in Akata Witch
The Akata Witch quotes below are all either spoken by Chittim or refer to Chittim. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 4
Quotes
“Money and material things make you king or queen of the Lamb world. You can do no wrong, you can do anything.
“Leopard People are different. The only way you can earn chittim is by learning. The more you learn, the more chittim you earn. Knowledge is the center of all things. The Head Librarian of the Obi Library of Leopard Knocks is the keeper of the greatest stock of knowledge in West Africa.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9
Quotes
“Teamwork is the only reason you four lived to see Kehinde,” Anatov said. “There are seriously unsafe places in Leopard Knocks. Places where people try to steal chittim instead of earning it. Where they have forgotten why they receive chittim in the first place. Knowledge is more valuable than the chittim it earns.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14
Quotes
“That was amazing, o!” Godwin exclaimed.
“Did you see her?” Kouty exclaimed.
“Like Pele!” Sasha shouted.
The French speakers were shouting in French.
And chittim rained on us all.
The white team looked half as happy, and less than half as much chittim fell around them. They gathered and calmly slapped hands, turning to look at the green team celebrating its loss.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15
Quotes
“How many chittim fell when it was over?”
“Seven coppers,” Orlu mumbled. “We could have gotten people killed and we got paid for it.”
“As a group you made a mistake and you learned you could also right it,” Anatov said.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18
Quotes
“You’ve made good progress, Sunny,” Anatov said.
“Thanks.”
“What I’d like you to think about, though, is who you are. Because within that knowledge is the key to how much you can learn.”
She frowned, thinking about what had just happened with her mother. “Oga,” she whispered, “these days I don’t really think I know who I am.” Anatov was silent. “What do you know of my grandmother? Who was she?”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Akata Witch LitChart as a printable PDF.
Chittim Term Timeline in Akata Witch
The timeline below shows where the term Chittim appears in Akata Witch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
An excerpt from Fast Facts for Free Agents explains what chittim are: Leopard People currency. They’re curved metal rods; big copper ones are the most valuable...
(full context)
...a raffia dress, and Chichi says that Sunny passed. Anatov instructs Orlu to put the chittim in Sunny’s purse and explains that Sunny is a rare free agent, since neither of...
(full context)
...Knocks, get lunch, and explain things to Sunny. When Orlu comments on how heavy with chittim Sunny’s purse is, Chichi points out that Sunny knew nothing before she was initiated, so...
(full context)
Chapter 4
...book for Sunny titled Fast Facts for Free Agents and pays for it with Sunny’s chittim. Then, Sasha suggests they go to Mama Put’s Putting Place for lunch. Sunny pays for...
(full context)
...money and material things are the most important. But in the Leopard world, people earn chittim by learning—knowledge is the most important thing. So Sugar Cream protects the greatest knowledge site...
(full context)
Chapter 6
...pick it up again. The keyhole yanks her through it and on the other side, chittim fall around her. She leaves them, since she can’t pick them up, and then passes...
(full context)
...hopper, and Sunny asks if she can see lots of new creatures now. A bronze chittim falls in her lap.
(full context)
Chapter 7
...noise pierces the air, causing most of the bats that don’t drop dead to flee. Chittim falls and Orlu calls for another firefly to light their way (the first got eaten).
(full context)
...But if she hadn’t cut it, they’d all be zombies. Sasha and Orlu gather the chittim, which the four earned for teamwork, and they vote Sunny treasurer. When Chichi is feeling...
(full context)
...home, and Chichi coaches Sunny through sneaking back through the keyhole. Sunny earns more bronze chittim when she materializes inside her bedroom. It’s five in the morning—Sunny has to get up...
(full context)
Chapter 9
...four survived because of their teamwork. He reminds them that knowledge is more valuable than chittim, and says he had to risk their lives to further their educations. Anatov notes that...
(full context)
...bridge, Sunny feels sure of herself. She rushes forward and crosses the bridge in seconds. Chittim fall at her feet: Sunny made herself invisible.
(full context)
Chapter 12
...by the knife—and the kids gasp when Junk Man says the knife costs 13 copper chittim, a small fortune. But Junk Man says he doesn’t negotiate on juju knives; Sunny has...
(full context)
...Anatov assures her that’s normal, and then Chichi coaches Sunny through calling music. Two copper chittim fall at her feet when she successfully does so. Pleased, Junk Man gives Sunny a...
(full context)
Chapter 13
...The fight continues until Sayé runs his ghost arm straight through Miknikstic’s chest—and Miknikstic dies. Chittim rains onto the field. As Mballa gets up to announce the winner, Miknikstic suddenly gets...
(full context)
Chapter 14
...Ibou fall. After scolding Sasha, the referee starts the game. As Sunny kicks the ball, chittim falls.
(full context)
...lost by one point—but they don’t care. They run into a celebratory group hug as chittim falls around them. The white team doesn’t look nearly as happy despite their win, and...
(full context)
Chapter 15
...which Orlu resents. Anatov also looks angry when they reach him. He asks how many chittim they got and says they got paid because they made a mistake and learned they...
(full context)
Chapter 18
...he’s corrupt. He was an oil dealer who worked with Americans, and he’s always sought chittim, Lamb money, and power. Because he wants power, he’s been working on a forbidden juju—which...
(full context)
Chapter 20
Mud and trees fall from the sky, the storm stops, and chittim rains down around Sunny. Sunny’s fear turns into pain—she’s very sore. Chichi calls for Sunny...
(full context)
...council vehicle is going to show up soon, so they set about gathering all the chittim they earned. Sure enough, a van arrives 30 minutes later. On the drive, Chichi explains...
(full context)
...Library just as the sun comes out. The driver explains that he’s taking all the chittim to Sunny, Sasha, Orlu, and Chichi’s homes and drives away, leaving the four to enter...
(full context)
