This month, the Zeda Book Club is reading The First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, a vibrant and layered novel that takes us into the heart of Uganda through the eyes of a bold young heroine searching for belonging, truth, and selfhood.
Makumbi’s novel is a rich and witty coming-of-age story that explores womanhood, ancestry, and the complicated ties that bind families together. With humour, emotional depth, and unforgettable characters, The First Woman examines identity, patriarchy, and the stories women inherit, inviting us to wrestle with liberation, longing, and the meanings we attach to our mothers. It is a book that sparks reflection while offering moments of joy, laughter, and beautifully human messiness.
As we turn the pages together this month, we look forward to discussing generational wounds, feminist storytelling, and what it means to become yourself in societies that ask women to shrink. The First Woman reminds us that coming-of-age is not just a personal journey, but a political and ancestral one, shaped by women who came before us and those we become.
Zeda Book Club is open to women to join. We café hop and read a new book every month. We meet on the first Sunday of each month in Nairobi. Join the group here. Happy reading!
