Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC BY-SA
Chicago is one of the United States’ most populous cities. Prior to its colonization in the early 1800s, the land was home to many indigenous tribes, its intersecting waterways making it central to travel and socialization between communities. Since the establishment of Chicago in 1837, it has grown from a small trading city in the American Midwest into the 3rd largest city in the United States. Today, Chicago has grown into a center for worldwide trade and commerce, its advanced infrastructure and economic opportunity attracting people from across the globe. Its population of nearly 3 million supports a significant number of immigrants: an estimated 20 percent of Chicago’s population was not born in the United States. In addition to Chicago’s wide variety of cultures, its large community supports sports, film, music, and theatre.
Nnedi Okorafor’s parents are Igbo Nigerian and immigrated to Chicago prior to her birth. Much like the young characters of Akata Witch, Okorafor grew up grappling with cultural hybridity; she is both a Nigerian and an American. Chicago is also mentioned by name in Akata Witch. Sasha Jackson, a troublesome teenager, was sent to Nigeria from Chicago as punishment; after moving to a predominantly white neighborhood, Sasha and his sisters were targeted maliciously by their peers, resulting in dangerous magical outbursts (Okorafor 59). Even in a diverse city like Chicago, cultural differences and prejudice impact young people tremendously.
Works Cited
“Chicago History.” City of Chicago, 2026, www.chicago.gov/city/en/about/facts.html.
Delso, Diego. “Calle E Monroe St, Chicago, Illinois, Estados Unidos.” WikiMedia Commons, 21 Oct 2012, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calle_E_Monroe_St,_Chicago,_Illinois,_Estados_Unidos,_2012-10-20,_DD_03.jpg.
“Facts & Statistics.” City of Chicago, 2026, www.chicago.gov/city/en/about/facts.html.
Okorafor, Nnedi. Interviewed by Kameelah Rasheed. Mosaic Magazine, 16 Dec. 2013, https://mosaicmagazine.org/nnedi-okorafor-interview/.
“Quickfacts: Chicago City, Illinois.” United States Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, 2026, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/chicagocityillinois/PST045224.