The First Woman
Winner of the Jhalak Prize, 2021
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4.1 • 28 Ratings
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
'Jennifer Makumbi is a genius storyteller.' Reni Eddo-Lodge
An intoxicating mix of Ugandan folklore and modern feminism, from a multi-award-winning author
As Kirabo enters her teens, questions begin to gnaw at her – questions which the adults in her life will do anything to ignore. Where is the mother she has never known? And why would she choose to leave her daughter behind? Inquisitive, headstrong, and unwilling to take no for an answer, Kirabo sets out to find the truth for herself.
Her search will take her away from the safety of her prosperous Ugandan family, plunging her into a very different world of magic, tradition, and the haunting legend of 'The First Woman'.
'In Jennifer Makumbi, we have a giant of literature living among us.' Peter Kalu, Jhalak Prize Judge
A SUNDAY TIMES, OBSERVER, DAILY MAIL, BBC CULTURE & IRISH INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In this heartfelt coming-of-age story, Ugandan novelist Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi captures the timeless wonder of a folktale. Raised by her grandparents during the reign of murderous dictator Idi Amin, tween Kirabo longs to learn more about her mother. Her frustrated search leads her to a local witch, who offers a bombshell revelation: Kirabo carries in her the spirit of the “first woman”—the original ancestor who rose from the sea and was as uncontrollably powerful as the water. We loved following the fiercely independent Kirabo as she fits this new information into the way she views herself and grows into her womanhood in the rigidly patriarchal society of 1970s Uganda. Though she faces plenty of challenges, her newfound identity helps her pave her own path. The First Woman is a compelling reminder that all of us have hidden strengths that we can call upon when faced with adversity.
Customer Reviews
Lovely
Splendid read 😁
Engrossing
Lively and characterful. This novel transports you every time you open it. It’s a coming of age story where each moment of growth is delicately revealed.