‘The First Woman’: an excerpt

‘Go get out of those damp clothes, Kirabo, or you will be buried instead of me.’

‘I did not bring any. I will have to borrow from someone.’

Nsuuta smiled but did not pursue it. When Nsuuta was warm, she sat back and said, ‘You have surprised me, Kirabo.’

‘Me? How?’

‘I thought you would fly. I thought you would break rules, upset things, laying waste to everything right and moral. I guess you really clipped your wings and buried them.’

‘Nsuuta, this is the second time you are saying that.’

‘Because I think you are going to marry Kabuye’s son as soon as you finish your degree.’

‘He believes in mwenkanonkano.’

‘Clever boy.’

‘And he is not afraid of the vagina.’

‘How do you know?’

‘I showed him.’

‘So that is how he took the sting out of you.’

‘No sting was taken. If we acquiesce, hiding our bodies, we allow the myths to stay.’

‘But taking away the myths takes the little power some women have.’

‘Nsuuta, it is dangerous keeping feminine power down there. Whether it is myths or in mystery, we put a target on our bodies. Sooner or later, they come to raid. Unless you did not hear about the women raped during the war.’

For a long time, Nsuuta kept quiet. Then she sighed, ‘I guess you are growing up.’

‘Now you are worried?’

‘Nothing takes the sting out of a woman like marriage. And when children arrive, the window closes. Wife, mother, age, and role model – the “respect” that comes with these roles is the water they pour on your fire.’

‘Nsuuta, every woman resists. Often it is private. Most of our resistance is so everyday that women don’t think twice about it. It is life. Even the worst of us like Aunt YA, who massage the male ego with “Allow men to be men”, are not really shrinking but managing their men.’

Nsuuta was silent as if digesting Kirabo’s words. Then she sighed. ‘I wish I could see you, Kirabo.’

‘I think you do, Nsuuta.’

Print Share Comment Cite Upload Translate Updates

Leave a Reply Cancel reply