BECAUSE
THE FIRST
WOMAN
SAID.

A film by
Andrea Eidenhammer

Feature
Documentary
90 Min.

© Andrea Eidenhammer & Ruzica Sirovina

Peninah, an extraordinary woman caught between two worlds: Austria and Kenya. She fights for migrants’ rights while challenging traditions and empowering women in her homeland. A life story that bridges the past, present, and future.

Synopsis

Peninah Lesorogol grew up in a remote Samburu community in northern Kenya, where tradition shapes nearly every aspect of a woman’s life. As a girl, she underwent female genital mutilation. At thirteen, she became the first girl from her village to attend school. Later, an arranged marriage to a powerful man set her on a path she had never chosen for herself.

Years later, Peninah lives in Graz, Austria, raising her children and building a life far from the world in which she grew up. But her connection to her family, her community and the traditions of her childhood remain deeply present.

When she returns to Kenya, past and present begin to converge. Her personal story opens a window onto a society caught between deeply rooted customs and a new generation questioning which traditions should be carried forward – and which must end.

Moving between Austria and Kenya, intimate observation and Peninah’s memories, Because the First Woman Said is a cinematic documentary about a woman who refused to accept that the circumstances of her birth should determine the boundaries of her life.

At its heart, the film is about the transformative power of education, the complexity of belonging, and the courage it takes to become the first person to choose a different path.

© Andrea Eidenhammer