ONYEKA AND THE ACADEMY OF THE SUN

A young British Nigerian girl tangles with her hair’s true power.

Onyekachi hates her hair. She wishes there was a way to magically make her mass of gravity-defying, comb-breaking curls and coils behave. Maybe then she would fit in and not draw negative attention. Her overly cautious Mum constantly reminds Onyeka that she needs to blend in and not cause trouble. Onyeka is dutiful except when it comes to her best (and only) friend, Cheyenne, another British Nigerian girl. When Chey nearly drowns at the pool, Onyeka’s hair forms a lifesaving bubble around them. Later, her mother reveals that Onyeka is a Solari, just like her missing father, and decides they must return to Nigeria to find him and help her gain control of her Ike, or powers. Scared and excited, Onyeka arrives at the Academy of the Sun, a Solari boarding school, while Mum heads off alone in search of her father. Unfortunately, Adanna, Onyeka’s new roommate, is cold, rude, and the school’s top student. While Onyeka slowly settles in, tragedy strikes: Her mother goes missing. This first series entry shines brightly as a tale of overcoming emotional scars, gaining confidence in our gifts, and forming new bonds. Onyeka’s journey with her hair, both as the vessel of her magic and as a Black girl, is beautiful to witness. The rich worldbuilding makes the solar-powered Nigerian techno-wonderland feel palpable. The final twist will create a hunger for more.

A delightful blend of adventure, heart, and Afrofuturism.