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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
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MAMA PATY


The way she welcomes a joke from her amazing children

Mama Paty will not read this
For she knows nothing
And often puzzled
By the modernity
Her child lives in.

She lives in rural Denja
Seldom comes to Nairobi
Where Dad met her
When she was
What I nauseat
To think of.

A mother of eight
Of twin borns
She has succeded
To bring life
And hope
To many.

She depends on her cow
And the season crops
With least hope
To get a thing
From us, kids.

She is supersticious,
Easily angered
Believes in God
And often prays
For us.

She does not pinch Den and Nana
But threatens them to tell us
Of their disturbance
Not the way she did to me
When she had energy
During the days
Of re-organisation.

You are thin my son,
What should I cook for you?
Why are you not eating?
Is that patch on your neck dirt?
Never walk in dangerous places and time!

I've and She've upset me
Her leg injured once
Weaknesses that sink my heart
(Like the fly on her right eyebrow)
And the pain of being away from another

Sometimes in her mind, I read doubts
Of the man I will be
Of the girl that she'll call navizara
Of the misfortune that may befell
Now that I am not in her bosom.

For if I went to read this to her
I won't be sphisticated
But when she hears good report
Of and from me
She sputters
Blessings.

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