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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

A freedom song, Onyango yo

Onyango lives in the city
Onyango works in a garage
Onyango gets to bed tired
He lives in Mukuru slum
Onyango is a graduate
Onyango yo

For he is of alien tribe
Onyango needs no leverage
While he complain others work
Doing businesses all day
In my powers I regulate them
Onyango yo

Onyango crude and cruel
Bad picture to the idle youths
He hears his age mates talk English
Thinks he can be better
Onyango twenty-five now
Onyango yo

Then my garage was full
Onyango did know that
He is paid, every month end
I have bills too, many
What less? He fired himself
Onyango yo

Customers need great care
Moreso when they are VIP
The youth served too slow
None will praise my able firm
Onyango lacked experience
Onyango yo

Onyango never grew to marry
So we know he was timid
He feared to face life
That was his main mistake
Always with bushfire ideas
Onyango yo

Onyango's shot today
Violence and rebellion he chose
He had denounced peace call
To end it uselessly
Onyango gone to Heaven
Onyango yo

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