Netflix has announced a new partnership with Westbrook Studios’ Will Smith and Jon Mone, and Yoruba Saxon’s David Oyelowo, to bring to life a new film adaption of author Tolá Okogwu’s “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.”
“Onyeka and the Academy Of The Sun” will be released by publishers Simon & Schuster in the U.S. and U.K. this June. The film adaptation will be penned by writer and director, Ola Shokunbi.
According to the book’s synopsis, Onyeka is a “British Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psycho-kinetic powers—perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers!”
Lauded as “Black Panther meets X-Men ,” the protagonist’s power lies in her hair.
Onyeka has a lot of hair—the kind that makes strangers stop in the street and her peers whisper behind her back. At least she has Cheyenne, her best friend, who couldn’t care less what other people think. Still, Onyeka has always felt uncomfortable with her vibrant curls…until the day Cheyenne almost drowns and Onyeka’s hair takes on a life of its own, inexplicably pulling Cheyenne from the water.
At home, Onyeka’s mother tells her the shocking truth: Onyeka’s psycho-kinetic powers make her a Solari, one of a secret group of people with super powers unique to Nigeria. Her mother quickly whisks her off to the Academy of the Sun, a school in Nigeria where Solari are trained. But Onyeka and her new friends at the academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves embroiled in a momentous battle between truth and lies…
Okogwu is a British-Nigerian author, journalist and hair care educator. Her series, “DADDY DO MY HAIR,” also focused on the magic of Black hair.
Netflix has, from the very beginning, worked hard to deliver diverse content from cultures across the globe and continues to expand its roster. We cannot wait for this exciting adventure brought to life!
