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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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FIKISHA; You can easily take a grown up from the street than a young one.

My question to Frank, the Director Fikisha, was, 'Can't this young boy receive a few strokes of cain to school?' He lowly laughed and corrected. My rural upbringing often drives me to the use of a cane (by a superior) to instil purpose in a young one. Things fell apart long ago.

The young boy- of about 12- had come into the rehabillitation program late hence missing the day's topic failitated by Alyssa, the creative Director from USA. To blame them is like blaming an African who comes to the meetings late. There is a song among the luo that 'If I come to your home early is as if I slept there...If I come late is as if I wanted not to come'. The funny fact is that the boys are not driven by time. What a freedom! They are driven by the weather, light and darkness. As long as they can see their shadows- no matter the length- they know it is day. They coming to the meeting late meant that there was still a sun overhead. 

'We can spot a child who can change', continued Frank. 'They always tend to be neat than others and orderly. To such the problem is poverty at home', he said while pointing to a child five metres away. A child who leaves home for the street should be quickly reported because after some time the child may never see the advantage of family homage. The young one may be more curious for street life- something good that he yearned for as he left home. If you think they are regretting for being in  the street you are wrong.

Freedom from family ties- there are families that children would want to run away from- takes them there. Not all come from poor backgrounds. The other post has them related to landlords and well-off families who are just waiting for them to knock off and rush them to rehabilitation centres. They know the love of money and how to live with least conditions- things that teachers tighten nuts on. 

And so if you would want to rescue a street, chose the one with maximum street life for the one with least experience of a life yearned for may be that child who stabs the backs of foster parents.

Thank You.



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