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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 : Where to sleep

You can't walk the whole day! The sun changed position and at  the back of my mind a conviction that I shall soon rest no matter the place grew stronger. During preparation, the thought of where I shall sleep received this approach : I shall enter any house at the approach of dusk, speak my case and get the response. People can still be trusted in the rural.

Where to adjourn the day needed be a good place to commence from come dawn. The nearby bridge was along Gahumbwa - Losengeli road. As much as I heard from Induraji stories of how a clanman would be stonned alongside the lover in accusation of incest, there was a conscious doubt whether sleep shall be harvested. Capricorns treasure it.

To start with,  I'd ask for any saniaga home. Saniaga's are everywhere, we believe. Speaking to a clanman would be speaking to one's brother, father or grandfather.  I counted on it as the greatest entry point. It would be god-send kind of visit.

But friendship dwarfs blood relations in practice. In Gahumbwa I have a Virongo. Virongo is that friend you are given during circumcision. On the great celebration day, our  age set was called Kwambuka - new millennium. It is expected for vorongos to continuously visit one another,  building friendship and so forth. He becomes your brother. That is where I went.

You'd ask why I did not head for Mudungu where grandma lives. Many things. It wasn't time to be asked how my father was doing when neither one another had said hello to either for a year. Family conflicts existed. And saying that I was following Izava would be a symptom of bewitchment of their learned son. I avoided.

Had I had friend the story could be different. Sacks for sleeping in and utensils for cooking would make the group leader tire more. If you want to go fast, go alone.

Food, phone recharge, a bed. If I was good enough  I'd have said 'Thank You' after a deep dreamy night. I only said Thank you.

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