Rose Abonyo

Migration Story

I Am Kager Kanyidoto, Daughter of the Sunrise I am Luo. I am nyar Kager Kanyidoto, Ja-Ugenya. And my story didn’t start with me. It started with Ramogi. From Bahr el Ghazal we walked, not lost, just looking. We passed Uganda, greeted people, argued a little, and kept moving. In Siaya, Jok’s sons shared land like ugali. Alego took the plains, Sakwa the swamp, Asembo the lake. My Kager said, “Give me where the sun wakes up first.” That’s how we became Kanyidoto. The people of the east. We settled on Ugenya hills around Sega. High ground, good air, soil that works hard. We are Kager, Kanyibok, Kanyamwa. Big families, big mouths. In Ugenya we are known for farming, schooling, and talking. My grandfathers could debate rain for hours, then go plant. My grandmothers could cook, teach, and solve problems before lunch. When missionaries came with books, we said “karibu.” We sent boys and girls to school. Today we are teachers, nurses, lawyers. But we still come home, because shosho under the oduol tree has answers Google doesn’t have. To be Kager Kanyidoto is to carry direction and memory. Direction, because we face east. Memory, because in my Dholuo you hear the Nile. In my food you taste the journey. Migration was not running. It was shopping for home. We chose Ugenya. Today I may be far, but my name finds me. “An nyar Kager Kanyidoto.” It means my people walked with purpose. I carry red soil and sunrise in my heart. I am modern, but also ancient. The hills raised me. The women before me made me strong. And the story continues with me.

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