The Snow Girls

The Snow Girls is an autobiography that presents a riveting story told through the lens of two high school friends. These remarkable girls find themselves faced with a rare yet non-negotiable opportunity of attempting the unimaginable climb of their community’s sacred mountain at the peak of their A-level education in 1964. The book is set in both pre and post-colonial Kenya, at the point where Kenya obtained its independence from British rule. 

When Rhoda Wanja passes her O-Level Cambridge exams at Kahuhia Girls School, she is accepted into African Girls High School (Alliance Girls High School) where she meets Hannah Njoki. Unbeknownst to her, the two will become lifelong friends. We are taken on a journey of their mental preparation, adventures and calculated decision-making that eventually leads to them becoming the first African girls to climb Mt Kenya, peaking at Lenana Point at 16,058 feet. The mountain was known to only have been previously ascended by European explorers, and prior to that, the Agikuyu spiritual leaders, carefully selected to intercede to God on behalf of the community. 

Expect to be captivated by the girls’ tenacity and ability to achieve everything they put their minds to, despite the obvious barriers in gender, resources and technology.  

You will immediately appreciate that Prof. Rhoda takes the time to provide the historic role and symbolism of Kirinyaga in the lives of the indigenous inhabitants of Central Kenya.  One is instantly transported to a time where spirituality, religion and work ethic are highly respected.  Seldom do we get to hear or read such personal stories seen from the perspective of a young girl in a world that traditionally promoted the advancement of the boychild. What is even more exhilarating to note is the depiction of the families behind these two remarkable women who believed in equal opportunity for all. 

As someone who spent many years visiting my grandparents in Nyeri, I was immediately consumed by a sense of nostalgia. The very mention of towns and homesteads that were very dear to me was overwhelming. I was extremely grateful to read about my grandmother’s parents. This was an iconic part of the book for me as I never got to know much about them, let alone meet them. 

Even more enchanting for me is the fact that this is a story of African women by African women in their very own words, during an era evidently glazed in a post-colonial hangover. With Rhoda and Njoki growing up in rural Kenya, one cannot help but to appreciate how ahead of their time they both were.  

The Snow Girls contains many valuable back-stories and tales of our history from a unique perspective. You will encounter various themes, from colonial supremacy, beliefs & value systems, myths & folklore, valuable familial relationships and gender dynamics. You will also experience a vivid and topographical depiction of Kenya’s rolling landscapes, fauna and flora alike, an ode to the majesty of Mount Kenya. As a Kenyan, this certainly qualifies as a campfire story, to be passed on from one generation to the next. 

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Catherine Wanja Muya is a seasoned transactional banking innovator with a Pan African financial institution. She currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband and daughter. She is an avid reader with an insatiable appetite for the untold and undertold African stories.