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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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Izava Walk : Bush bushing

Good moro! The day started with seeing what remained of my primary school teacher who committed suicide. Was it a home with pigeons and rabbits? Cows and hens? A family can get wiped in a very short time. Unconcerned, Izava flowed downwards.

There is Riverside ridge before Lusengeli. Opposite, where Ehedwe calms to Izava is Lwenya. Ihedwe/Ehedwe is the small river one crosses from Senende to Hamisi. It follows the depths of the rifts, gathering water from springs to make Izava pleased.

Wondering why there was no placards or posters discouraging open-air defecation, a man came. He found me facing the bush, pouring warm salty water on the grass. It is an all time favourite feeling to piss by a bush, head up, taking in gulps of fresh air. Ask anyone whom I ever trekked with.

Irangatwa is the only son whom  people can say Kaka had a child, the man answered. He is yet to join college buy about the rest, it is a matter we can't talk about.

Gwaka is past tense. He was a strong boy that used to nguruma while running. His shoulders leaned left. He resembled the father. What is reported is that days after he came home, his stomach swelled abnormally the way people who are bewitched symptomise. Had he stolen something? What was the disease? The young man later died.

If you met Isiaho you wouldn't believe! It is said he is in Nairobi. He has as many  cuts as you won't count. He lives a bad life there and if he came here all the village would be terrorized.

Nyasaye akovere zimbavasi, we parted.

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