Jumia Books The First Woman Novel by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

The First Woman is a powerful, multi-layered coming-of-age novel by Ugandan author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. Set primarily in rural Uganda during the tumultuous 1970s and 1980s, the story follows Kirabo, an inquisitive and headstrong girl raised by her grandparents in the village of Nattetta. The novel explores her personal journey to self-discovery, womanhood, and the search for her estranged mother, all against the backdrop of political upheaval and cultural change under Idi Amin’s regime.

Plot and Main Character

Kirabo: Raised in a loving extended family, Kirabo begins to question her origins as she enters adolescence, particularly the absence of the mother she has never known. Her search for answers leads her to Nsuuta, a village elder once considered a witch, igniting an exploration of myth, tradition, and family secrets.

Personal Growth: The narrative follows Kirabo from age twelve into adulthood, including her transition from the countryside to city life, her experiences at an elite girls' boarding school, and her growing understanding of her sexuality and independence.

Women’s Community: Kirabo’s life is shaped by a vibrant community of women—her grandmother, aunts, friends, and elders—each navigating their own challenges within a society that often aims to silence or constrain them.

Major Themes

Feminism & Myth: Central to the novel is a retelling of Ugandan origin tales, focusing on the figure of "the first woman"—originally strong, bold, and unbound, but later suppressed by societal norms. Makumbi weaves indigenous feminism throughout, showing women's resilience and the ways patriarchal systems pit women against each other.

Motherhood & Identity: The story delves into mother-daughter relationships, abandonment, belonging, and the lifelong quest for self-definition.

Tradition vs. Modernity: Kirabo’s journey embodies the tension between rural customs and urban modernity, tradition and progress, as well as shifts in family and gender roles.

Storytelling as Power: The novel highlights the role of stories—myths, gossip, and personal histories—in shaping identity and community. As one character says, “The minute we fall silent, someone will fill the silence for us”.

Social Issues: Through Kirabo’s experiences, the novel addresses colonialism’s legacy, tribalism, sexuality, gender discrimination, and the continued relevance of practices like labia elongation, as well as the education and status of women.

Critical Reception and Awards

Celebrated by critics for its vibrant prose, humor, and emotional depth. The book has been compared to classics by Zora Neale Hurston and Tsitsi Dangarembga.

Winner: Jhalak Prize 2021

Shortlisted: James Tait Black Prize for Fiction 2021

Notable Details

Why Read This Book?

Rich immersion in Ugandan culture and folklore

Unforgettable, complex female characters and intergenerational relationships

Insightful look at the forces shaping womanhood and identity within—and beyond—Africa

For fans of contemporary, character-driven fiction exploring personal and political transformation

Makumbi’s The First Woman stands out as a modern classic, blending myth, history, and feminism to give voice to stories seldom told.

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