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Heavy responsibilities for elder aunt among the Logooli

With Seenge Fonesi. She is the elder grand daughter of Isagi and elder daughter of Amugasya. She is often present in functions involving the family of Amugasya. Pic taken on 18/4/2024. The elder sister soon becomes the elder aunt. It is this “seenge munene” (elder aunt) tag that she is tied to many cultural responsibilities – back home. To her marital family she may appear as any other woman, but she is not so in the eyes of her people. Marriage does not steal her away as it would happen with other daughters of the old man. To her, as days go and the old man and woman of the estate are dependents, she becomes increasingly present.  Her brothers also need her for almost all traditional markings. They are marrying, she needs to welcome the new wife. They are giving birth, she needs to come to midwife or “bless” the new born. They are paying dowry she needs to lead the women delegate. There is a conflict she needs to come for a hearing.  And many others. Traditions does not expect her to

I have no words

I have no words
To describe a woman
Who knocked off a child
On Ronald Ngala Avenue
During her busy hustle
To provide for her children.

I have no words
To describe the driver
Whose maddening hoot
Made the school going child
Miss a heart-beat

I have no words
To describe the old woman
Bent by a heavy sack on her back
When people of her age
Are composedly waiting for their end day

I have no words
To describe the youth of my age
Who nagged me on the streets for twenty shillings
When he could rob
If we met at the wrong place

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