I picked Akata Witch not only bc I had read Binti by the same writer, and loved it, but bc I remember they sold it as the Nigerian Harry Potter, and in a way there are several elements that lean in such direction
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Sunny is the USA-born, moved to Nigeria albino girl who discovers she has magical abilities she wasn't aware of, and who bonds with two ppl, a show off girl and a responsible boy. Thus the trio is set to deal with some old evil (our he-who-must-not-be-named). There's a sort of Diagon alley to be reached stepping on a dangerous bridge; witch and wizards are Leopard people (be the Lambs); there are no wands but Juju knives and no quidditch but proper football and wrestling.
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However, these are elements consistent of all magical, coming of age stories (magical tools, borders, we/them, friendship and big enemy) so I wouldn't say Akata Witch can't but live in HP shadow, it definitely has its own worth, its own originality and its very peculiarities.
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I loved the sort of earthy grain to it, might be the weird curses, the all too real familial ties, or just the familiar references, but I really felt the location and the relations between characters. In some moments it's unexpectedly cruel, and the characters unexpectedly vicious and arrogant (And I'm talking about the trio of MC)
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Recommend it