A Girl Is a Body of Water

Summary

Set in Uganda during the 1970s, under the rule of Idi Amin, A Girl Is a Body of Water follows Kirabo, a curious and independent twelve-year-old girl growing up in the rural village of Nattetta. Raised by her grandparents and surrounded by a large extended family, she has a comfortable childhood, yet one question haunts her: who is her mother? Although her father occasionally visits from Kampala, nobody in the family is willing to speak openly about the woman who gave birth to her.

Determined to uncover the truth, Kirabo turns to Nsuuta, an older woman whom the village regards as a witch. Through their conversations, Nsuuta introduces her to the stories and spiritual traditions of the Baganda people, helping her understand her own rebellious nature. She teaches Kirabo about the idea of the “first woman”—a powerful, independent female state that existed before society imposed restrictions on women’s freedom. As Kirabo grows older, she must reconcile this sense of inner strength with the expectations placed on girls by family, tradition, and community.

Blending Ugandan folklore, mythology, and the experiences of women across generations, Makumbi explores motherhood, female identity, and the ways patriarchal traditions shape women’s lives. Against the backdrop of a country experiencing political turmoil, Kirabo’s personal journey becomes a broader exploration of how women preserve their voices and independence in a society that often seeks to silence them. The novel celebrates the power of storytelling, ancestral knowledge, and female solidarity in shaping a different future.