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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

People lose their hearts

People lose their hearts
When they grow big
For when I board the public bus
To go learn A B C D
I am expected to pay for the seat.

Were it not for the uniform
I'd not stand in between the seats

The different men and women
Whom I daily see
Are neither mothers nor fathers
To my friends at school
For if they trully were
One could let me rest on laps
By the window
And count the moving tall buildings
1 3 5 7

But see how they squeeze me
Backsitters rushing to alight first
My 8 year old body in between
Threatening to be crashed
Carrying the only heart around.

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