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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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We taboo the eucalyptus?

-: On a light note, 
If we have eliminated the umbrella tree in our "chamugizis" all over the county  within a few months  because _it attracts death in the family,_ we can trim the prevalence of eucalyptus.
Let us think up some _mujilu_ of not planting _igitati_ and _ulusiola_ in our homesteads 😇

-: Just like slaughtering of a bull at funerals became _umwima_ in the early 60's courtesy of a funeral function in Sabatia, we should appreciate the only language our people understand.
To this day, a Luhya won't touch _umutembe_ tree.
And indeed, those who have done so carelessly have paid ...

-: We should separate old wives' tales apart from established facts. I hear the mutembe is sweet music to some herbalist

-: Customs and beliefs don't follow any rational path.
But there are repercussions of sorts.

I was in Butere as a young man when Opembe beat Shikuku in the race for parliament for the first time in a long time.

The elders asked Opembe to spear a _murembe_ tree and pronounce his kingship in Butere.

By the time Opembe got back to Nairobi he fell sick and lost his walking ability soon after.
Opembe eventually died.

If a new custom is founded and presented to the ancestors in much the same way you do bills  in parliament, Lo and behold, there is an effect.

-: What shall I do to the 3 mutembe trees around our home. Shall I spear them or let them be? I noticed that they have very beautiful seeds - red/Orange with a black ring and a white spot

-: Surely what are all these myths about the mutembe tree which has been around for centuries without any adverse affects on the locals but instead they act as a cure for mumps? We need some proper facts about Mutembe tree!

-: Let me break this down.
I just realised we are not on the same page.

1. As Western Kenya community we have attached special importance and meanings to trees.

2. It would be good to get our community interested in planting indigenous trees.

3. If there are trees that have adverse effects on our environment, then we have to do something.

I believe this is not too difficult to understand now.

-: One of those indigenous trees to be planted is umutembe. Let's not fear trees because they are innocent but instead plant them in plenty.

-: _Umutembe_ is a good tree.

I remember there used to be one at the municipality grounds in Mbale and another at Vihiga Law courts.

One of the 'judges' back in the day who is now rested, told me that before the Lologoli Bible, that was where our people were oathed during court procedures.
Either the _Mutembe_ or banana tree.

_Umutembe_ is not only a special tree, but actually a sacred tree.

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