jajjalicious

grandpa: friend or frenemy?

Jajjalicious highlights the power of the grandfather to galvanize the kraal (African family investment model): inlaws and outlaws.

Jajjalicious amplifies the blessing of loving inlaws and silences the curse of wicked outlaws. The secret of surviving in the family kraal/homestead, is to...

+ Embrace the good inlaws (friendlies);
+ Stay away from the evil outlaws (frienemies);
+ Expand the family kraal as a resource (fraternity).
"Have you appreciated Jajja's legacy today?"

Live outside Kampala 98^%
Aged 65+ years ~2^%
Homesteads/Kraals 1^mn
Older women 54^%

State of Jajja

Aug 2024

GrandParent is the Chief Convenor of the homestead; s(he) has many names: Jajja ('omujajjaasi' luGanda for "convenor"). Zeiza (baGwere). Dada (Alur). Koko (Swahili). IseNkuru (Toro). The Republic of South Korea celebrates Grandparents Day in July.

Jajja is ...
+ Jajja (luGanda - "convenor")
+ Koko (Swahili)
+ IseNkuru (Toro).
+ GrandFather (English)
+ Zeiza (baGwere)
+ Dada (Alur)
— 'GrandParent' in different languages

Jajjaless

According to Ministry of Gender (MoGLSD 2020: The State of Older Persons in Uganda: Situational Analysis), One in six households with an older person (60+ years) is a skipped generation household i.e., with older persons and children under 18 years of age only. Older women (jajja mukyala) are more likely to live in skipped generation households: one-fifth of all women aged 60-79 years are in this living arrangement. The inlaws include...

Senga: paternal aunt, 'female Father'
Kojja: maternal uncle, 'male mother'
Maama Muto: maternal auntie
Taata Muto: paternal uncle
Mulilwana: next door neighbour
Nephew: male cousin
Niece: female cousin
Kizibwe: cousins (brothers & sisters
Chief: Clan Leader
Muzzukulu: Grandchild

Jajjalicious

The homestead is a rich ecosystem of relationships (extended family), livestock, granaries and dwelling places. Sometimes inlaws turn into outlaws but they stay related to you.

The extended family comes in many flavours but the most potent is the Grandfather. The role of the GrandPa is varied as a(n)...

Anchor: legacy/foundation to protect
Advisor: senior parent in the kraal
Convenor: hosts grand homecoming
Nanny: caretaker for granchildren
Patriarch: the head of homestead
Investor: a source of venture capital
Landlord: he owns the family estate
Judge: arbiter/mediator in conflict
Priest: oversees worship of the deity
Ancestor: a legend to remember
Storyteller: lectures at fireplace
Healer: knows herbal remedies

Namukadde akukwasiza ku ggolu lye"
The old lady disciplines you using your hunger African Proverb

Blueprint: Anatomy of Jovial Jajja

nanny | advisor | mediator

GrandFather is...
+ Head: grey hair
+ Heart: kind
+ Hands: frail
+ Heels: weak
+ House: open
—GrandFather

The world over, the grandfather serves as the patriarch and grandmother as the martriarch of the homestead. the two elders create an airtight cover of the kraal. The family court is convened in the frontyard of the grandfather; the elders convene in his hut to solve community issues.

Normally called 'Mayumba kumi' (10 households), the homestead or kraal is an innovative social innovation that presents the whole estate as a unit...

Land: the family estate with respective land holdings held in trust by the Jajja.
Houses: the different houses eg granary (kyagi), main house, workers' quarters.
Animals: the livestock enterprise as in animal husbandry eg cows, goats, poultry.
Plants: the gardens covered in crop enterprises eg millet, matooke, coffee.
People: individuals who are related to the Jajja by blood or by marriage.

Eliiso ly'omukulu, awaddugala wewalaba"
The eye of an elder sees very far African Proverb

GrandFather's Code of Honour

convenor | connector | collector

Gramps is...
+ Impartial
+ Generous
+ Storyteller
+ Listener
+ Loaded
—The African GrandFather

The Office of GrandFather is the core of the kraal/ homestead. African society is very families and so is built around a collection of homes. A good grandpa is...

Impartial: He does not take sides in a case. Since he is a confidant of everyone in the homestead, it is wise to be confidential. Rule of Thumb is: Don't share family secrets.
Generous: What children love most amout Jajja's place is the food and treats that he spouils them with. He is the custodian of the family land.
Storyteller: Due to their wide range of life experiences, grandparents have a lot of knowledge to share.
Listener: Since most grandaparetesn are retired, they have all of the time in the world to listen to your stories.
Loaded: Jajja is an investor because he is able to bankroll an event; that is why we like organising the homecoming events at his place.

We are meant to listen twice as much as we talk; that is why we have one mouth flanked by two ears"
African Proverb

Ready to Join

family systems strengthening

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