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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 Unamu

With Unamu Nathaniel at his home near Jebrok and son

Unamu is the son of Anidere /Anidel'le/. Anidere the son of Anga. Anga of Ahai. Ahai of Anga. Anga of Rivanze. Rivanze of Nyanza. Nyanza of Mafumu. Mafumu of Ruriva. Ruriva the son of Saniaga. Unamu's other name was Zamaguti. Zamaguti is documented kuva wu mwandu. The mother was called Kadenge.

Zamaguti Unamu died in 1930's and was buried somewhere on the path to Kakamega. He was a huge man. Sick, they went to seek medical services in Kakamega and he died on the road. His body would be very heavy for those who were with him. They borrowed a jembe (s) in the neighbourhood and in the ground, bushland,  they buried him. Unamu was born at Kidundu and there happened to be a family land at Chango where he came at after marriage.

The first marriage of Unamu was by being asked to take in Ondoyo's wife, called Jendeka. Ondoyo, a close brother had died and left Jendeka with a girl called Ruzi. He had not yet married. It was Atiagara who went for him asking him to take in the wife. By whom he sired Adamba Kizugu and two daughters, Marita Rutavati and Vihenda. People do not regard taking in your brother's wife as noble when you have no wife of your own. Such tales lead to remarrying, which Unamu did. Mukana muDidi called Ruth Minage. By whom they begot Javan Chavurimu and two daughters, Erita Mmbone and Sorome Kadenge. Whom he went with at Chango, extent of ancestral land.

At Kidundu, Unamu's son, Adamba Kizugu begot Richard, Kayere, Uganda and daughters; Jendeka, Zindori, Kananaga ... While at Chango, Javan Chavurimu begot Unamu Nathaniel in 1946, Jeska Jendeka, Peter Odondi, Jane Mbaira, Benson Misoga, Ronald Ugada, Henry Mahasi, Pamela Zindori and Geoffrey Imbwana. Their mother muRogovo, Raheri Atiavira. These are presently grandfathers and grandmothers.

Unamu Nathaniel, the informant, played for Maragori FC when Mungoma and Andimi clubs reigned. It was in 1982 that he hunged his boots from sports, having enjoyed spoilsome youthhood as a player, winning favours. He was deep in employment at Firestone company, an opportunity that football had given him in exchange for favours among those that wanted to employ him. He remembers his initial salary of Ksh 299.50 a month in 1971 and coming to retire in late 1999 with Ksh 35000/- monthly pay, good money. Amounts he had first been warned by his father to save wisely and would buy him the land he is at, Gimarakwa, Tambua. Fit for his hard work and experience. Not the KAPE that he failed at Mbihi Primary in 1964 and the one he passed in 1965 changed to KPE. He would have been admitted to Kakamega but Manoah Edengere, muYonga requested Jethro Mudanya, a teacher from Kakamega to let him school at Chavakali and uplift sports there. He was a footballer, sprinter, handball player and a boxer alike. He remembers Nashon Aziaya among others that he was with at Chavakali.

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

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