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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

Kalenjin/Maasai land that we call home now?

-: Lung'afa, when you talk of Saniak, among the Kalenjin, could be relating to the Saniak Clan of the Keiyo of Kerio Valley.
The late Nicholas Biwott was from that clan.

Whilst serving in the Fluorspar Company, I did find it interesting, that there were community members in the Kerio Valley whose relatives were as far flung as Gambogi!
They took keen interest in me just because I was from Vihiga.
They told me that it was trade that got them thus far.

You are pursuing an interesting line.

-: The Kalenjin trade connection also comes up in other aspects.
The name, *"Atiamuga"*
is a corruption of the Kalenjin greeting, _"Jamige"_

The day my grandmother of the Vayonga clan was born, a Kalenjin trader came by and her mother concocted the name therefrom, and you know Valogoli and our "heavy tongues"
that give you _Musuluve_ from Mrs. Rees;
the _Jamige_ version  became, _Atiamuga_.

-: While at Keiyo valley, I found a Saniaga called Musungu Kiptanui. I found an ancestor called Musungu at Handidi, among Saniaga. 

Another, the colonial leadership in Keiyo preferred people of Saniak clan (they pronounce /saniag/) for work. Artisans, farm, messengers and confidants. 

Up Kachibora to Kapcherop in Marakwet, where Saniak look like the Borana, one white man had ropped in Gusii people and one village was of them, now Marakwet speakers. 

We corrupt many words. Igadwa is /ikatwa/ among Isukha. Jiragwa is /kilakwa/. 😊

-: From the look of it, the *Avasaniaga* have an interesting story. Just like would the Avagihayo (Luo clan) and Abasuba.

Mulogoli assimilated many clans to diversify and as a way to make peace as well as acquire more land.

Like when he took _ikivala cha Vavo_ (Chavavo) the remaining Luos that sought peace and not go back to Luoland (Chula Imbo, Chulaimbo near Maseno) had to blend in as a Avalogoli clan, _Avagihayo._

-: We are told Gaigedi, Mudungu, Gahumbwa, Sabatia, Mago, Losengeli etc are all corruption of Kalenjin words/names given by Kalenjin

Prior on, if we are to backdate life in Maragoli, Kalenjin herded their cattle around. 

- What would be the meanings to the names, what could have been the original names? 

Cause Bungoma is said to mean 'use the front door' and Kakamega 'trouble at home' among the Kalenjin.

-: Not all these names were originally Kalenjin, may be Gaigedi, Jemovo, Givudanyi, but Losengeli sounds like a corruption of Los Angeles 😁😁😁

-: In fact most names of places were originally Masaai names including Elgon, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Nairobi, Kitale, Laikipia, Gilgil, and many others, the Kalenjin are just trying to copy

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