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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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The pain of receiving technology in the Village.

My father possessed a phone a few years back long after people subscribed to what used to be a rich man’s toy. A letter (of inadequate money) used to arrive home weeks after dad gave to a person he thought would reach mom. He used to know people from other ridges and directed them to the home by a family name. One time, a messenger asked for a tax and mom complained. What followed was a case. It ended in grudges.

An owl hooting from a compound tree.

Akamba and Kenya Bus Courier Services were also unreliable. Once we hiked a long path to confirm what was not there. Heart break. Every 5th mom hoped something had been sent because that is what Dad said when he left. It never followed that regulation.

A river that has been reddened by musengeri.

Then once, anxious of Christmas day, using a village rich man’s phone, I dialed the neighbour to Dad in Nairobi. The ten numbers were too long to master. I had not overcome network problems to hear my father before it cut short. I took a lame response to mom- ‘He said he will come 20th December’- so that she may not be angered by the much she had to add on top for the call.

A death cry in the silent night.

It may not only be a village problem. It is a son of soil problem. Technology comes in with such stress. I do not know why. It was hard to own this computer. It is criminal-minded to think of owning a latest phone. I will access them long after people have exploited them. That is the fate of son of soil- clinging to the past.


Tomorrow we will harvest sorghum. Birds are wasting it.

The rate is now 4/- a minute. Gracious!

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