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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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Fetching Water

Children started to cry in desire to follow their mothers and siblings to the river. Once they gain strength, they are given the light most jericans (or pots) which cannot quench thirst when full. The process grows up to become a tiresome one when they grow to suit the task. 

Fetching water was among responsibilities that prevented idling when it was off-farm season. It was both a working task and something to do when all work is settled. The swinging hips towards the river attracted boys whom when cows were reduced, they adopted the task. They went down to the river with their cousins and sisters.


To all, news were shared at the river- which girl is now married, who is now older, who died and all others. Boys and girls threw their bodies into the river defiantly to orders that the river may be polluted. Some went there to keep off from disturbance and stree at home. 

When the population grew in my time, I had to wake up early enough, when the fog was dense on the river and fetch fresh water before a line up. You could hear the noise of the jericans as I competed along other early birds. But in the day, when there was nothing to worry about, the round jericans could take their own motion in gravity and be controlled by the legs. 

Women and men who were building a new mud house or in a family with a ceremony that required much water could be gazed at from the other ridge. They made such recurring movements that pleased deep eyes. And when the village elder whistled for the cleaning of the spring, all came with their jembes. 
Mother; showing how she used to go fetch water.


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