The First Woman cover art

The First Woman

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The First Woman

By: Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
Narrated by: Pauline Babula
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $27.99

Buy Now for $27.99

About this listen

The stunning second novel from the award-winning author of Kintu is a soulful, fiercely original novel rooted in Ugandan mythology.

Smart, headstrong Kirabo is raised by her grandparents in rural Uganda. But as she enters her teens, she starts to feel overshadowed by the absence of the mother she has never known.

At once epic and deeply personal, The First Woman is the bold and piercing story of one young girl’s discovery of what it means to be a woman in a family, a community and a country that seem determined to silence her. Steeped in the rich folklore of Uganda but with an eye firmly on the future, Jennifer Makumbi has written a sweeping, effervescent tale of longing, femininity and courage.

©2021 Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (P)2021 Audible, Ltd Coming of Age Family Life Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction World Literature Magic Africa
All stars
Most relevant  
This book is something else. It manages something very rare in literature - to touch very sensitive topics (culture, colonisation, war, feminism, folklore) seamlessly into the narrative of the lives of many women. You can’t help but relate to Kirabo, but more than that the book helps you relate to all women, each dealing with life and its difficulties in her own way. An extremely well written book with a captivating story and strong but gentle message.

Powerful story, beautiful performance

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.