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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 Ganihizu

with Morris Iganihizu left, his mother  and Agesa at Muzuliu village

Beside the Kirimas at Mbale going to iMuzuliu is the original land of Iganihizu, facing the road. Presently the Iganihizu's are spread at iMuzuriu village (ivuSanga), iMunugi, Nandi, Kigumba (in Uganda) and other places.

iGanihizu was the youngest son of Ambare /Ambale/, his fourth son. The elder son was Gamsha. Engome was second and Ruvita /Luvita/ third. In a second narration, Ganihizu is said to be the son of Ruvita.

Ambare is perchance the man whom Mbale town is named after. Locally the town is called /wa-Mbare(i)/ to mean 'place of Mbare' and only shortened to Mbale, letter r in pronunciation replaced by l in writing. It was so too even before the official laying of Kisumu-Kakamega road that a road did come to pass through Ambare's parcel. He withdrew to the Western part, the Eastern part operating as a market centre, trading that started long time ago at the place. Ambare himself is said to have been a cattle trader. A shrewd one, adds Neccy Munagi in her article about the iGanihizu family.

Ambare had many associates who by time thinned his original stretch of land from Idavaga to the present habitant. His grave is suggested to be at Idavaga.

Of the four sons, only iGanihizu is notable. There is need to find out where the others went to as it was a tradition for the elder ones to migrate as a young one stays behind to inherit the land and home of the father. Iganihizu grew up to marry Diana Nyagi and about 1907 he begot his eldest son, Agesa Philemon who was also known as Harambee. The second was called  Asava Kiranduka. And the third, Rusigi /Lusigi/ who remained at Mbale as the elder two moved downwards.

Philemon Agesa bought a parcel down at iMuzuriu while Kiranduka shared a valley bottom with him there, iMunugi side. VaRwangare is the clan of a people they settled among.

Agesa Philemon married twice. Before he was settled for marriage, he bore a child called Harun Agesa Daudi by Elizabeth Ridede, mukana muGomba. Harun would be with his mother and even when the mother was now married officially near Igunga to one Nyabari and begotten three other boys did Philemon Agesa reignite the need for her to come and be his wife. And at that time he had already married another, Seri Agesa. With Seri he had begotten four girls and two boys. Adogo, Chahiru, Endeche, Mijide, Girl* and Laban. It is Laban that Seri nursed alongside Migoze William, a son that Agesa Philemon begot by Elizabeth Ridede after she had come back to him.

Philemon Agesa wanted to have a second home in Uganda, Kigumba. He managed and settled Seri Agesa there. Her sons and daughters, save Laban the youngest have lived there since. Even Migoze, at the care of Seri and attention of the father grew up in Uganda. He was went for by Harun Agesa, his elder brother to come and have formal education in Kenya, citing the move 'ul'lera /ururera/ rwitu'. When Agesa Philemon came from Uganda, he was a sickly man. His last born, Laban, came with him and cared for him at the time of sickness.

It would end tragically for Agesa Philemon when one day, ill and disturbed, he sort the attention of Laban. Which he did not get. Also sick, there seemed to have been no one around to care for his needs as food. Frustrated, he took up a noose and hung himself.

Harun Agesa was also called Inziano and was born in 1932. He grew up and married Avoga, muNondi whom together they begot Neccy Munagi, Francis Museve, Simon Rasta, Diana Nagi, Mijide Fanice, Morris Agesa and Elizabeth Harper. Then she died. So early that the youngest ones were not even two years old. This destabilised Harun Inziano who was working in Mombasa Port by the time. He would take children to live with relatives. He needed a woman who would assist him to take care of his young family.

And there was a young lady, muRogovo, a primary school teacher, born 1934 called Grace Minaywa who was in an abusive relationship from the abhorred Nyore people. She had been petitioned for by her father to leave Mombasa where she was practising her teaching work to be transferred to Maragoli in the safe hands of her father. This lady had a second cousin who was working at the Port alike. And the cousin knew what had befell his coworker, Harun. He suggested to Harun. And Harun wrote a letter back home to Grace Minaywa.

Now, when Grace read the letter, she was so annoyed that her young sister had gone ahead to search for a man for her. She did not know that it was her cousin who had linked her. Not after Harun had by himself presented his cause to her father and she had agreed to it too. It would not affect her teaching. And steadfast as Avoga was in her buying and selling of vegetables in Mombasa before her death, Minaywa went on teaching and raising Harun's children as hers till they are now with and expecting grandchildren. Miriam is now 76, suffers from a leg injury from a vehicle knock down and carries with her fond memories of Harun Inziano.

The children to the brothers of Philemon Agesa are as below.

Kiranduka married muMasingira by the name Serifa Kavere. He begot Jumba, Paul, Kirioba, Justus and Migoze. Land pressure caused Jumba to migrate to Nandi, Kapkangani. Kirioba to iBanja. Migose to iMukingi. With Paul, also Ambale begetting five sons with Julia Mideva (muNgomba) there will be no further subdivisions of land to their children for they are separated from one another by a few metres.

Rusigi married twice. He first married Loice Kareha, muSachi and begot Mary, Anguzuzu and Christopher Kidiavai, a son. With Gertrude, muMuku, he begot Willy, Harrison, David, Robert, Emmanuel, Kepha, Diana, Morris and Kennedy.

Iganihizu had two sisters,  Sandiri and Resiba. He is also said to have had another 'closer' brother called Adorondo from iMbihi by whose death he inherited the wife and begot Mudome and  Magomere, sons. This could offer a clue if there be an opening on Adorondo's side to further search for the migration route and births to the present settling.

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

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