Skip to main content

Featured

Posted by

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
Post a Comment
Read more
Posted by

Izava Walk : Wodanga

If I can recall well, my father said that they used to herd where Kibisu's land opens to the road that runs Gavudia-Sabatia passing by Chief Odanga's craddle. When Papa came from Narobi, I was relieved duties as washing utensils. Then he'd have me as the passenger on his bike or walk mate as we headed to Mudete via Wadungani path. The clothes I had on did not measure to the beers I was taking him to take.

One day he had told me 'I have heard!' when I insisted that I needed new exercise books. I was afraid to ask again. Another time he bought me a trouser that did not nicely fit cause it was 'material'. I remember him hanging to matatu- the pick-up ones- and paid the small five bob coin. Five bob.

Now the log bridge is replaced by a concrete one. Odanga could drive cheerfully through his chiefdom had he ruled today. Walking both in South and North maragoli is a great area. Whoever listens to the tales of Odanga admires him.

Odanga is from vakayere clan and that is part of the reasons elders saw him proper to lead. The foinder of the clan is said to be a person who yayeraa while challenged with heavy matter. He was not given to anger the way Ariero, sons of Didi and others did. And so when Inzara ye Kekombe striked, it found a proper leader in place.

Concerned like all of the elders, Gudahi tells a situation where Odanga gently asked the elders, 'nakokorendi?' And the elders advised. Mabiri was the DO who oversaw affairs of Kavirondo for the virgin Queen. North Kavirondo were cooperative people. Kaimosi Bible College functioned with great collaboration. World War II soldiers had been largely sourced from Evologoli. Armed with these bargain points

Mabiri organised lorries around to Butsotso and Marama. People like Shemu had lorries with them by then among others. Maize was given for free. Free! And when harvest time arrived, valogoli could not forget easily.

That story takes us to a stream that originates in Vokoli to end in Izava.

Comments

Post a Comment