Japuonj Aloys Afulo (1922-2006)- Part I

Japuonj Afulo, a Luo-Kadimo elder, was meant to be his father's herdsboy, but somehow manouvres his way to school, ending up as a headteacher in 1946. Starting off as an Anglican in Usenge sector school, Siaya County (Kenya), Japuonj proceeds to Yala intermediate and gets converted to Catholic. He walks many kilometres to Aluor, carrying only Kuon Anang'a as his meal for all the days, in order to undertake Catechism / Confirmation lessons. Aluor was a far location to which he must walk...
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Japuonj Afulo, a Luo-Kadimo elder, was meant to be his father's herdsboy, but somehow manouvres his way to school, ending up as a headteacher in 1946. Starting off as an Anglican in Usenge sector school, Siaya County (Kenya), Japuonj proceeds to Yala intermediate and gets converted to Catholic. He walks many kilometres to Aluor, carrying only Kuon Anang'a as his meal for all the days, in order to undertake Catechism / Confirmation lessons. Aluor was a far location to which he must walk from his Kasau (Kadimo)/ Kadimu) home, spend at least a week, and walk back, relying on the same Kuon Anang'a (specially prepared & preserved sorghum thick porridge made from milk). Japuonj walks through a successful yet busy and challenging teaching career path. After 2-3 year experience, he established a new , and the first Catholic school, Nyamonye, in Kadimo (Kadimu) amongst his father's uncles, the Kowil. Here he successfully navigates through a very rough terrain for two decades, even losing his first Wife, Akoth Olali nyar Kobong'. He marries Margaret Nyar Kagwa, and works in Nyamonye for 2 decades before leaving for Barkanyango school following a Kisumu Gunshot mishap. Along the way, Japuonj successfully tries his luck in the then prestigious provincial administration as an assistant chief, (then called Mruka) but is persuaded by the then Father in Charge, Auderaa not to take up the position even though he won. This gives his number two, Zedekiah Opala (Nyakwar Jiii) a chance to become an assistant .chief. All along, Japuonj proves to be a point man for the catholic's Mill Hill mission in the entire Bondo and Rarieda sub-counties, and successfully walking the journey from Aluor, and seeing the establishment of Lwak, Nyangoma and Nyamonye missions. His initial efforts to bring the missionaries to establish the Nyamonye mission fails after the hosts to be refuse to offer land. This gives Nyangoma a chance, a mistake that Nyamonye faithfuls pay for heavily by walking to Nyang'oma for 20 years before finally having a parish established there by Fr Kraackman. Whike in Nyamonye, Japuonj starts off other catholic schools in Kadimo (Kadimu), but Ulungo and Lul fail to survive due to religious conflict with the dominant CMS, while Goye is submerged by the Independence floods of 1964. Othach Survives courtesy of shrewd community and parent mobilization by Afulo's in law, Mzee Okongo. Afulo proves to be an all round leader who is also elected by his dominant Kadimo kin as the founding chair of the of newly formed kanyathuon welfare association, Dala Branch. He successfully leads the association for 3 decades, registering key achievements of establishing 6 primary schools and at least a secondary school in the Kanyathuon sub-clans, before finally passing over the mantle to a youthful but promising Wison Odhiambo Oreme. He retires gracefully after 40 years of remarkable service, but continue to offer his services to the community as a mentor and advisor. He dies in 2006, leaving behind two widows, Margaret Akelo nya Kagwa, and Margaret Auma nyar Ugenya, alongside 16 highly successful professional adult children, and at least 40 grandchildren. The book discusses to depth the Kadimo genealogy, comprising Kanyathuon, Ajongo, Bith / Oyugi and Maganda. Besides, the book delves into the migration of the Japuonj's ancestor, Dimo, right from his brief sojourn in Soroti, Alego, and triumphant arrival and conquest of Yimbo @ Misori. The book further discusses the Dimo relationship with other clans he found settled in Yimbo, with a special relationship built with the Goma through a deliberate marriage . pact. This is a rich history of the Kadimu and Kenya, in various sectors, with a focus on religion and education. The cultural practices of the Luo, including Nago Lak (removal of 6 lower teeth), are discussed, as well as marriage, dowry, traditional foods of Yimbo, and a brief history of introduction of new religion to East Africa, Kenya and Nyanza.