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The struggle with many a rigid Logooli cultural practices

  The Logooli community is one of the deeply cultured societies – with near everything supposed to have been done as per custom – to allow another custom to follow. One example is that for a mature man (with a child or more) to be buried, there must be a house structure at home. Another is that a boy must be circumcised and nursed in father land. If maternal family decides to, the boy will have a hard time reconnecting with father people - a dent on his masculinity. There were two children who got burnt to death in a house in Nairobi. The single mother had left for night work. Elders were told that one of the children was Logooli. The other, the woman had sired with someone else. The Logooli family wanted to burry their little one and long discussed the do’s and don’ts. Of a man who died childless and the grave was placed as if he had died as a man with children. It should have been dug on the sides, the grave. A real thorn should have been thrust in his buttocks, his name go...

SHOES THAT SCHOOL


He could not understand the fun with the shoes that made me photograph them.


In 1985
He bought the shoes for Ksh 85
In May he was 56
He might have worn them today.

For more than 20 times
He has changed soles
But the crocodile skin
Or the best tan it was
Keeps going.

If you hear their praises
And how they've helped
With the care they get
You won't think otherwise.

Mom proposed the laces be replaced
But the man he is
Never ready for ambushing change
Can't change them
Maybe if mom does as she've done elsewhere.

The shoes paid my fees
Paid for Mercy
Paying for Milly
To pay For Dollin
Will pay for Den and Nana.

He is a keeper
A man who lives by his means
Though we may correct him anyhow
It may be by our lack of experience.

My son, follow not the modern tight trousers
Nor take to alcohol
I regret the days I was a drunkard
For I want you to live dignified
(The shoes existed before you
And careless life may see them burry you)

As any child wishes
Parent's should live long and healthy
To drink sugar
Of their Child's gratitude.

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