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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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The Ayiro

With Ngiriemu and wife at Lunyerere
One Saniaga called Musivoji owned a parcel of land from what is now a cattle market in StendKisa downwards to Izava river. It was him, who early then, welcomed Musabuko Mudave from Ivusari to the area. Musivoji's son was paid in kind for the same and migrated. 

Born 'Ngiriemu Hegen', Yusuf Adaro grew up in the era of Amendi's reign. Amendi came later at Stendkisa, Saniagas already established downwards. Though the Masingira could not fail to remind Saniaga and Gamuguywa their caste - herd our cattle! His name is after the first white that his father worked for. Back, his father was taught by the Hindu how to cut and bind linings to clothe pieces. 

A youth, the Hindu had established themselves at Lunyerere. He enrolled as a goods lifter and a 'tandiboy' for the lorries that used to ferry goods from Kisumu. Then dust and mud had motors unable to go up the Mbale steep from Lunyerere. It would take lots of efforts to get going. There he could learn from the lead drivers how to drive. It is driving that later  crowned his active life. 

Kakamega, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi... He was a driver working in the medical sector. He thinks it is his obedience and humbleness that took him up the ranks despite lack of education. 

Familiarity with surveyors when he was working at Kakamega, giving them lifts as he went to Eldoret for goods, increased his chances of getting a 15Ha piece of land in Chekalini, Lugari in the year 1965. At least he was a step ahead of those who thought that it was a taboo to leave ancestral homes or development would be rewarded by early death. Mutiva ku kirindwa kuduka gurindwi! And that is how almost everyone of his descendants is in Lugari. 

Living in Mombasa for 15 years and courting a Giriama girl that he later wifed little maintained his light brown skin but greatly introduced him to Swahili life and religion. The set up of his home speaks so and he donated land downwards to build a mosque. Partly the increased wrangles in churches justified his approach locally. 

Counting six wives, eleven children and many grandchildren, guga Adaro wonders of the current life. There is education but no jobs. All needed is money to get by and prices keep increasing. Unlike when wealth was in land, animals and family. 

With Thanks

-: I am of this Vasaniaga of stendi Kisa. Thanks for the life history of Guga Njiriemu. I believe his father was a cousin to my great grandfather Ang'asa Lutsinga.

-: The name Musivoji is ubiquitous in the extended family, never knew the source. Now I know. I however do not know of anyone named after Musabuko Mudave

-: The custodian of the family history was a mzee(now deceased) called Kipanga. A brother to Njiriemu, he died before I ever got to download the knowledge-has left me grappling in the dark

-: Let us cross our fingers in faith that he did not die with it all. 

The questionnaire may round up lots and we get much of what he knew though much went with him alike. 

- 🙏🏽🙏🏽

-: Following the rich history.. Any history on origin of Saniagas in south nyanza Migori? I would love to know where we came from.

Comments

  1. Anonymous28 December 2023 at 01:52

    You forgot to write that he Proffesor Ayiro's father. Ask him where his sons Timothy and Musabalwa are??? I schooled with them at IGUNGA Primary school in the 80's

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