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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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Nandi Hills - the death cliffs at Shaumorobi, tea plantations and lack of Saniaga identity among the Nandi

Viewing the Shaumorobi death cliffs of Nandi hills. Down is a forest canopy
Further askance about Saniak among the Nandi has maintained that there is no such identity among them.

Only Saniak village and sub location near Kabiyet. Accessed from Mosoriot.

Reference to Chief Arap Titi of the present Aldai constituency as muSaniaga was not confirmed when family members were asked. They belong to Nandi tribe and clan.

However we cannot say that none of vaSaniaga/abaSaniaka went and were amalgamated among the Nandi. Migrations are not based on vein theory. They assumed different identities for Nandi is not by itself an indigenous tribe but an amalgamation of different people with different origins - Maasai, Gusii and others.

Migrations to Nandi land is still on. Maragoli and Tiriki tribes did surpass chief Arap Titi's prevention of further East migrations. Recently and now too. The whole stretch from Serem to Aldai constituency office is largely a Tiriki speaking zone. Lands that Nandis recently sold. And as people keep searching for work and earnings there are many Luhyas in Kaptumo and Nandi Hills, mainly as a result of employment in tea companies.

One striking tradition among the Nandis is the circumcision rite. And one death rite, hard to believe is of elders going to fall over a cliff in old age. With many years lived, acceptance that they are of no benefit to the society, the elders would gather as a group and head to the present Shaumorobi cliffs. And down where a human would not reach, throw themselves. Dead.

Peter Kirima: Those who meet me for the first time think I appear more Kalenjin or maasai to them. Saniak among the nandi might remain a mystery but the physical appearance to some might aid some proof ☺

Erick Author: So in a nutshell , my strong misgivings about the theory are valid ? Physical appearances can be attributed I the fact that our African tribes absorbed and assimilated those they conquered in the many tribal battles they had. Ama namna gani?

Mudengani Kisia: It is rather Among the Marakwet/ keiyo as has been researched earlier. Problem is to link that to the Kamnara of  sakwa,@⁨Lung'afa⁩ Here is the task

Erick Author: And how about instead of kotondoliza uvwiiko vutaveeho, we just concentrate on strengthening ourselves and our identity as a Maragoli clan?! When we are strong and visible aviiko Aveene naveerete vuza 

Mudengani Kisia: Suviraa iho ha kuzizaa, Kareke kwuyumbake aveene na vaze vuza. Si koveye avadedekere mba. Koveye avatovore kuri avisraeri

Peter Kirima: Kuri Avisraeri😁?

Ndanyi: @⁨Lung'afa⁩ 
Arap Titi was a frequent visitor of my grandfather, Ndanyi, as Musaniaga, just like Bishop Chabuga used to. It is the current generation that doesn't value the attachment, but do something significant nationally then these people will start aligning themuselefus to be part of the fame!

Lung'afa: @⁨Erick Author⁩, We are doing all we can to grow Saniaga. To strengthen this which we have. The Sacco, The Libraries, The Youths, The Saniaga Groups... But how many of us are supporting!? We are only a snap away to a CORPORATION. 

@⁨Mudengani Kisia⁩, It is good to keep digging so that we can renew the love for our identity with new information. It is not enough to be a Saniaga. We need to know more about others so that incase questions arise amongst us we can have information worth drawing answers from. 

@⁨Ndanyi⁩, Yes baba. Identities in the past were fluid. They changed with seasons and generations. Paramount Chief Arap Titi is a migrant to Seremi. If we can also spare time to research his roots then we can have leads on how our grandparents were fond of him. 

-/With Thanks

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