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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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Hello Oyunga Pala

I am a fun of your articles. The last one was about Githeri man. He made us get confused whether elections were stolen or not. And that makes a young hopeful man unsure of his future and the legacy of his generation.

Oyunga, I am set to walk on river Yala, from tributary to estuary. Next week or so. I could already have done were it not for elections fever and lack of support. The purpose is to collect stories about LUGOSE. That is what the river is called by the luhya. And lugose means offence, the river has over generations offended people. Reasons why, I must talk to gold seekers, women who farm around, youths who harvest sand, men who put log bridges and all that. Fables, legends and stories around the communities I shall also collect.

I am a diarist, ten years now. This years diary is Florence with a motto - year of adventure. My books pile by my desk and I read my past days with hollowness. I strive to risk, take off blindly, courageously invite pain lest my days lack sap. After Lugose walk I will cycle around Lake Victoria. That is the ultimatum year's plan. I am interested in the lake for we live in the Nile basin. Activities and social life among the people around the lake would open up my eyes for the better. The lake region is deep with dynamic issues. It is my wish that you are equally interested.

I am now a little unconfined from the experiences I have of the past adventures. I have seen Yala in the thick of Kakamega forest when  I had cycled there. It would call for mental and physical strain. I would take a simple way, doing it on foot, combing the thickets, asking for host in communities around, being chased away in some, all because it is adventure. Long time ago savages lived better than a mad man nowadays. And friends that I share this with seems to think it is not worth.

Allow me to say that the information collected, of fauna and flora, social and economic, environment and preservation shall be used to inform any interested party.  What I collected from Izava Walk, hope you read them at the blog - saniaga.blogspot.com -keeps those who have memories with the river happy.

I am looking forward to your advice as I also attach my resume. Take me as a young brother, ready to go in the deep ocean dive just to see which stone is slippery than the other. And smile to say later, 'I lived'.

Sincerely,
Lung'afa Igunza.

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