
John Marshall
One Way Witch was a very fast read. Thanks to Nnedi Okorafor, the Afrofuturistic genre has remained one of my favorites. In the One Way Witch, Najeeba, the main character, has a deep desire for justice and becomes intrigued by "juju," an old, historic magic that has been forgotten. Combining juju with her pain and passion to define and defend herself, she becomes a very powerful sorcerer, allowing her to somewhat revisit the pain she experienced years, even decades, earlier. Even though the novel is short, it takes its time exploring the mystical and social systems of an Africa that feels long forgotten and whose stories have not been fully told. The narrative is rich with themes of violence, love, betrayal, and beauty. It serves as a powerful wake-up call to remember history, honor resilience, and simply to love African folklore and its allegorical meanings that we ALL can and should learn from.