Unlike their young ones and the youth who spend their free time socializing and partying, elderly Luo men, otherwise known as ‘Jodongo’, spend their time doing ‘boring’ stuff when together in the absence of women and children.
Here are some of the things they do in their meeting places, back in the former lakeside province of Nyanza.
1. Playing Ajwa
Ajwa is a kind of game played on a piece of wood with holes and another hole ‘bank’ on each end, where two players face off, with the one whose bank accumulates more marbles declared a winner.
This game is usually associated with the old, who at times cycle or walk for a few kilometres to their meeting joints, usually under a tree in the tiny rural centres and duel as they discuss serious issues.
In my backyard in Kano plains, the jodongo frequent Kasongo in Miwani and Ahero among other joints for the game.
2. Playing draughts
Draughts (draft), otherwise known as checkers, is a mind game which my old men love to play on a daily basis as they socialize, away from interruption from their grandchildren and wives.
Due to their experience resulting from many years of playing the game, it becomes suicidal to challenge them as most have their own boards and bottle tops at home.
3. Chat and deliberations
Just like any other group of people, they use their time together to speak on the latest issues that affect them and chat about this or that, at times their children living in the city or their many herds of cattle.
This they do as they fill their noses with ‘Mbaki’ (snuff) and then sneeze vehemently.
Though male youngsters can at times be allowed to sit with them, it becomes tough for women who automatically feel out of place and instead go to sit with their mothers.
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