We chat with author Tọlá Okogwu about her middle grade release, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, which is described as Black Panther meets X-Men and follows a British Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers—perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, The Marvellers, and Rick Riordan!
Hi, Tọlá! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, my name is Tọlá Okogwu I am a journalist, hair care educator and author. I live in the UK with my musician husband and two daughters. I mostly write children’s fiction, from picture books to middle grade and I also write under the pen name Lola Morayo.
How has the first half of 2022 been for you?
Hectic, but in the best possible way. I’ve published two books already and Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun will be my third, though not last of the year. I’m also an executive producer on the Netflix adaptation of the book so there’s plenty to keep me busy.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
It’s always been there in some shape or form, from the little stories I’d jot down in stolen moments, to the scenes I played out in the shower. With hindsight, I can see it in my choice of journalism as a degree and my decision to start a hair care blog. But it wasn’t till 2015 that I realised it was something I actively wanted to pursue.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. This book taught me the power of reading and how books can transport you to different worlds. I come back to this book often and can’t wait to introduce it to my own children one day.
Your new novel, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Thrilling, gripping, empowering, action-packed, unexpected.
What can readers expect?
Lots of Fun!! It’s about a twelve-year-old girl called Onyeka who discovers she has psychokinetic hair after saving her best friend from drowning. Her mother reveals that she’s actually a Solari – a genetically enhanced human with superpowers. But these powers are also making her sick and Onyeka must return to Nigeria and a secret high-tech school for Solari called the academy of the sun to find a cure. Whilst there, she makes new friends and enemies, and she must find the power within her in order to defeat a deadly foe that threatens her family and the future of all Solari.
Where did the inspiration for Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun come from?
It was a simple idea really. What if a girl discovered that the very thing she thought of as her greatest flaw, turned out to be her greatest strength? I knew immediately that it was a book about superheroes and that her powers would come from her amazing Afro textured hair.
For the longest time, Afro textured hair has been seen as something undesirable and this a perception I constantly challenge in my writing and in my work as a hair care educator. I’ve also been a fan of superhero stories since childhood, but rarely came across any that featured people who looked like me as the hero. The opportunity to write such a story was irresistible.
Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
Setting the story in Nigeria definitely threw up some issues. Though it is the country of my birth, I left when I was six and haven’t visited in over fourteen years. It was important to me that I represent the country and culture as authentically as I could, but I was struggling. It’s why I decided to create a futuristic alternate history version of Nigeria. One where I could freely use my imagination and play with historical ‘what ifs’. Whilst at the same time explore and celebrate the rich culture, food and geography of this amazing country. I got to imagine a Nigeria I wish existed in real life.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing Adanna’s character. She’s so prickly and snarky, it was fun to come up with dialogue for her and delve into her personality. My favourite scene is probably where Adanna does Onyeka’s hair. It’s such an a-ha moment for both and the turning point in their relationship.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently finishing up edits on Onyeka and the Legacy of the Solari, book two in the series. It comes out in March 2023. I’ve also got a few other projects in the works and I’m excited to see how production of the Netflix adaptation progresses.
Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?
Umbra Tales: The Lightcasters by Janelle Maccurdy, Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good by Louie Stowell, The Upper World by Femi Fadugba and Sadé and her Shadow Beasts by Rachel Faturoti. This has been a bumper year for children’s and YA books.
