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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 Aziaya

With Reuben Kemori, 91 years old at his home in Chekombero

The Aziayas are found in Busali West, Chekombero village. They are neighboured with other vaSaniaga, the Ibunda and the Isiaho where Chekombero School of the Deaf is. The  primary school downwards is an originally vaSaniaga land with vaKevembe and vaGihayo bordering close.

Narwigi of old begot Adeka. Adeka begot Jiravoya. Jiravoya begot Aziaya. Aziaya begot Reuben Kemori in 1928, 91 years strong, the informant to this, Saniaga Oral Genealogy Documentation.

Reuben Kemori worked for about twenty two years at Nairobi School as a cook. He was a soft spot to students from Maragori, running to him for extra dish when it was not enough. He remembers light moments with Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi at the school among other dear students, vaSaniaga among. Reuben Isadia, Daudi Lung'afa's son from iGavudia was among the vaSaniaga children he told the parents that there was chance at the school. From there he would serve as an askari, a court askari. And Joel Litu, a pioneer quaker turned a magistrate remarked to him, 'wiga igasi yoyo nu mwoyo gwosi.'

Adeka had three sons, Jiravoya, Mudimbukani and Muzozo. Muzozo migrated to Isuka, Mudimbukani had no remnant. Jiravoya increased at Chekombero, an ancestral land. He begot Aziaya, Egonyi, Madwugiru and Rumuri with Mugendiza, mukana muNyore muDede /muTete/. The latter three went to a white man's 1914-1918 war and never returned unlike the historical inter tribal warfares that muSaniaga victored in. Noah Aziaya saved himself as he acted as a headman to Chief Odanga's leadership. He did not go to the land of unassured return.

Noah Aziaya would marry Musalia Mudamba's aunt, Aruda /Aluda/ mukana muKevembe from iMururu to add to the acquaintance Reuben Kemori had for Wycliffe Musalia, a student at Nairobi School. She was his mother, who begot her and five others. Four girls and two sons - Jiravoya and Kemori. The girls are Baraza, Asenwa, Makungu and Mugendiza who was Soita Shitanda's spouse.

The two sons shared the land in the custom up bottom split, Jiravoya to the West and Kemori to the East. Jiravoya, baptized Envoy Jotham too for they were  born in Salvation Army faith, married Alice Musibega, muMavi muMuku. Their first born child is the late Julius Viser Aziaya, born 1943. Their other children are Nashon Aziaya the Voice of Kenya journalist and broadcaster, Absalom Kisia, Rotan Itaro, Albert Visaho, Bearnerd Kivisi and Aggrey Muzozo. Hellen was their daughter. Sons of modernly good reputation and learned dispositions only unable to counter inter brother dislike, a source of animosity at the family level.

Reuben Kemori has a son called Hesbon Aziaya who is blessed with children and grandchildren. Hesbon is found a little down from Hesbon, mu chani cha Aziaya.

-/With Thanks
saniaga.org
saniaga.blogspot.com
info.saniaga@gmail.com

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