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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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What do you remember her for?

Let us talk about women, folks! I understand it is not a conscious topic. Stories of women (or girls) are associated with pettiness, unfound whining and worse of all we have socialized those that do not call for our respect in debauchery. If you gonna host a woman, largely prepare for either, more so if in any way she feels inferior to you. Apart from sex, which of cause any can offer, women have left us good memories, learning instances and opened our eyes to new understanding.

In giving back, sons of soil have been responsible in offering technical help. A bulb went off and when it was replaced, the new did not light. The tap is loose man, do something. The gate hinges screech badly! Don’t we have a male figure around? If such would be remembered then the accusations towards men would reduce.


As agents of change, a woman can make one feel that you have long foolishly wallowed in deprivation and ignorance. ‘Look at your bed! Can’t you buy new sheets? Blankets are no longer in use. There are cheap duvets men. Stop embarrassing yourself. Is this the place you want me to sleep?’ Haha. The next time she will come to a new house, better than the other, a sofa set installed with a cooking gas in place. She would smile internally and mock at your folly. Did you have to take that long?

Before leaving for high school the poor village boy who never knew the essence of a closet was excused by his sister. She helped him pack items in the iron box. There he saw her take a shirt by the back, folding each side straight before the collar before folding it twice or once- ‘How you like it bro,’ she said. Only the least to satisfy would opt for an iron box.

Socks are clothing too and when washed should be well folded to avoid the wrinkles that would hurt your leg in a tight shoe. You have been used to coiling them roughly and here she is, teaching you how to fold them in pairs before rolling them into a beautiful ball. There will be no time where one part of the pair goes missing. That is a big problem simply solved.

My friend had one bucket for a start. Well served for that moment, he could ask for a basin or two from the neighbor once in a while for laundry. He says that his girlfriend visited one day and was about to help when she discovered that she would have to take a neighbor’s item. How she hates asking neighbours for items! Basins are not very expensive boy. Heaven sent, she bought them.

A woman would stand to correct and reprove a man in a direct way that a fellow man would not. They stand to say what they feel and want. And a man would accept that as a good challenge and employ efforts to provide.

It sours when the expectations cannot be fulfilled, when reproving is received as undermining or embarrassment, when one does not put self in the other’s position- when reproving is used to gain advantage.

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