Akata Witch

by

Nnedi Okorafor

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.
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Nsibidi Term Timeline in Akata Witch

The timeline below shows where the term Nsibidi appears in Akata Witch. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4
The Individual vs. the Collective Theme Icon
...Books. Sunny studies the books, which are written in all sorts of languages—including one called Nsibidi. Chichi purchases a book for Sunny titled Fast Facts for Free Agents and pays for... (full context)
Chapter 9
The Individual vs. the Collective Theme Icon
Education, Power, and Corruption Theme Icon
...Sunny feels drawn to the book she noticed last time in the store. It’s titled Nsibidi: The Magical Language of the Spirits, and the writing seems to wiggle. Sunny pulls the... (full context)
Chapter 10
Identity and Belonging Theme Icon
...Facts for Free Agents, learns basic juju, and practices calling forth her spirit face. The Nsibidi book is very interesting, and Sunny slowly starts to figure out how to read the... (full context)
Identity and Belonging Theme Icon
The Individual vs. the Collective Theme Icon
One Monday, Sunny wakes up happy—she had a breakthrough the night before with the Nsibidi book. But when she opens her newspaper and reads that Black Hat Otokoto abducted a... (full context)
Chapter 20
Identity and Belonging Theme Icon
Friendship and Teamwork Theme Icon
...around at her friends’ spirit faces. Orlu’s face is square, green, and decorated with tiny Nsibidi symbols. Sasha’s spirit face is that of a fierce parrot, and Chichi’s face is long... (full context)
Chapter 21
The Individual vs. the Collective Theme Icon
Education, Power, and Corruption Theme Icon
...touches it, the lid flips open to reveal a handwritten letter and a page with Nsibidi written on it. In the letter, Ozoemena introduces herself to her grandchild. She explains that... (full context)
Identity and Belonging Theme Icon
...What else does it mean? Sunny pushes these questions aside and studies the sheet of Nsibidi, but it’s too advanced for her. The final thing in the box is a photograph... (full context)