Summary: Kirabo is loved and adored by her grandparents and father. In her teens, she starts feeling the gap created by the absence of her mother and starts asking questions. The First Woman follows Kirabo on her journey to becoming a young woman and finding her place in the world.
Divided into five (5) parts, the First Woman follows the life of Kirabo from a small Uganda village of Nattetta in the 1970s to becoming a young woman in Kampala – the capital city of Uganda. Kirabo is surrounded by fierce, strong, and feisty women – her grandmother, Nsuuta, and Aunt Abi, quickly Kirabo becomes a woman of her own – with her ideas and opinions of “mwenkanonkanon”.
The first part of the First Woman centres on the Ugandan myth of the First Woman, Nnambi – the wife of Kintu. The First Woman is claimed to have risen out of the sea while the first man emerged from the earth. Disruptive stories of old passed on from one generation to the other marginalized women leading to oppression and exploitation of women. Makumbi does a fantastic job pointing out the flaws and consequences of these myths in the Ugandan culture.
Stories have such power you cannot imagine. That one turned women into migrants on land. Since then, women have been rootless - moved not just across places but clans, tribes, nations, even races
The main theme in the First Woman is Mwenkanonkanon – indigenous feminism. Makumbi highlights that Mwenkanonkanon existed in the African culture before Christianity and Colonialism. Before Western Feminism. Throughout the book, Makumbi masterfully displays how the African woman seeks empowerment and breaks free from the foundations of the patriarchy in the African culture.
Makumbi explores other themes such as love, friendship, family, parenting, religion, death and grief, marriage among others.
I loved Kirabo’s character. Kirabo is strong, smart, determined, and curious. Makumbi nailed this one with a coming-of-age character. I loved following Kirabo’s journey: finding her mother, living up to the expectations of her grandparents and father, furthering her education, falling in love, building friendship, and dealing with loss and grief.
Another character that caught and held my attention is Nsuuta. Her journey to plant herself in a male-dominated and complex society is such a great story. Also, her role as the elder who reconstructs the narrative for the young such as Kirabo is impressive. She’s the star of the show.
Makumbi’s writing and the use of language are beautiful. She masterfully weaves tales that shakes the foundations of patriarchy. I love it.
Comentarios