BURIAL CEREMONIES IN IGBOLAND A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL AND CHRISTIAN BURIAL (A CASE STUDY OF ABIA STATE IN IGBOLAND)
ABSTRACT
One of the often neglected areas of our culture which is of antiquity and yet unavoidable aspect of life and which for long will remain part of our history is the mode burial ceremonies especially among the three religions in Nigeria that is: African traditional, religion, Christian and Islam. Evidence aboard that these three religions preach peace and recognize God as the Supreme Being but their mode of worship and belief are different .This study ties to critically look at the similarities and differences in the traditional and Christian mode of burials ceremonies. This processes involved and their beliefs as well aspects to be reformed in this modern, world, especially among the Igbo Ethnic groups of Nigeria. Oral interviews and literature review constitute the main part of the methodology of this research knowledgeable people were interviewed in an abnormal situation and literatures related to the topic were as well consulted and analyzed which were the sources of the study This study is divided into four chapter one deals with the general introduction objectives of the study and review of related literatures .Chapter two discusses burial ceremonies in Igboland (traditional and Christian burial ceremonies are compared). Chapter three looks at charges in burial ceremonies and effects of modernity. Chapter four deals with discussion, summary and conclusion. This study exposes the uniqueness of the Igbo culture that has not been influenced by the wave of western civilization today.
TABLE OF CONTENT
PAGES
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract vi
Table of Content vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 9
1.3 Objectives of the Study 10
1.4 Review of Existing Literature 12
1.5 Significant of the Study 15
1.6 Research Methodology 16
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Burial Ceremonies in Igboland 18
2.2 Traditional Burial Ceremony 23
2.3 Death of a Drown Person 24
2.4 Death by Self Hanging 24
2.5 Death of Pregnant Woman 25
2.6 Death of a Youth 26
2.7 Death of a King 27
2.8 Christian Burial 30
2.9 Religious Syncretic’s Death 33
2.10 Traditional Burial Funeral and Christian
Burial Ceremonies Compared 34
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 Modernity and Burial Ceremonies 40
3.2 Changes in Traditional Burial Values 45
3.3 Changes in Christian Burial Values 48
3.4 Causes and Effects of Modernity 56
CHAPTER FOUR
DISCUSSION, SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
4.1 Discussion 63
4.2 Summary 68
4.3 Conclusion 69
Bibliography 71
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Abia State-God’s own state located in south-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Abia state was created out of the old Imo in 1991 with its capital is umuahia. The state is divided into seventeen local government areas which include Aba-North, Aba-south, Arochukwu, Bende, Ikwuanp, Isala-Ngwa North, Isiala-Ngwa South, Isikwatos Umu-Nneochi, Obi Ngwa, Ohafia, Osisoma Ngwa, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa-East, Ukwa-west, Umuahia-North, Umuahia-south.
History
Abia state was carved out of Imo state on 27 August, 1991 the name “Abia” is an acronym from the first letters of four groups of people. Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato and Afikpo now in Ebonyi state. Abia state was carved our of the former Imo state in 1991.
People & Culture
Abia people are of the Igbo ethnic group who predominate mean of the southwestern part of Nigeria their traditional language is Igbo with English widely spoken and serves as the official language in governance and business. Globally, Igbo’s are well traveled. Abia’s 2.4m people are mainly Christians and entrepreneurial. They are known and reputed to be industrious, highly market oriented, very hospitable and accommodating, probably due to their migratory nature.
Geography
Covering a total of 5’243.7sgkm land area Abia state is bounded on the north and northeast by the states of Anambra Enugu and Ebonyi respectively. To the west is Imo state, to the east and southeast are cross River State and Akwa Ibom state, and to the south is Rivers state. The southern part of the state lies within the revenue part of Nigeria. It is low- lying with a heavy rainfall of about 2400 mm/year epically intense between the months of April through October.
The Land and the People
Geographically and ethnologically, the land is better represented as a single whole which is made up of a central area. Reference to Afigbo (1973), the land had become extended eastwards and westwards in a:’ narrow belt to fuse with the land of Onitsha and other lesser rivers of the eastern Nigeria. He went further to explain that around this area are a few Lothér groups and other sub ethnic groups. Some of the groups are speaking language not yet classified, and are referred to by various names: Epie, Atissa, Saka, Abua etc. Once out of the Nri — Awka, the hinterland is occupied by the large and numerous Ibibio speaking people. Between then and bordering Okirika and Andoni are the groups of people called the Ogoni.
Economically, the Igbo adhere strictly to farming, land is one of their major possessions. Before they plant, they appease the gods for huge harvest and for appreciation. Some of the groups. practice fishing because of the natural endowment of rivers.
Nigeria is a country made up of unique ethnic groups which are the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Each of these groups has its own way of performing their burial rites which differ from others. The Igbo like Africans .cherish the burial of their relatives. The Igbo adhere strictly to their traditional culture in naming, festivals, thanksgiving and burial rites Today, civilization comes in to make little impact. Regardless of the rate at which western civilization is being spread, not all aspect of the Igbo traditions have drastically changed or bent for the wave of western civilization on different traditional culture. This is evident in the fact that traditional beliefs and concept of earth as well as funeral ceremonies are still fully observed.
Despite that, most of other ethnic groups have bent a little to the wave of western civilization, the Igbo group adhere strictly despite the drastic change. The coming of Christianity also brought another mode of burial ceremony which is different from that of the traditional culture of the Igbo people. Therefore, this study compares arid contrasts the Christian and traditional burial ceremonies, and the Igbo.
Theoretical frame work
There are certain terms and concepts used in this study which would be beneficial to the reader. An attempt is therefore made to expatiate on them as used in the study.
These concepts include;
- Culture
- Death
- Burial
- Funeral Ceremony
Culture
Culture is simply defined as a total way of life of a group of people which involves the way they eat, dress, speak and ceremonies etc. According to Niyi Salami (2004), culture is as total way of life and a complex social heritage of a people including their accumulated belief system, notions of appropriate, behaviours and the definition of the good life.
According to Walter Rodney, culture is a total way of life, it embraasses what people eat, what they wear, the way they walk, their belief about death and life He went further to explain that culture includes every that man does a given society, this means that people’s culture consists of their custom, beliefs and ideas This culture portrays their total way of life.
Bogmyoko Olubunmi (1999) m her project on the historical importance of culture among the people of Ijebu Ode explained that culture is an important aspect of human existence and that a society could hardly exist without culture.
While Ajetunmobi, (2006) Culture is the society’s entire heritage, including all the knowledge, beliefs, customs and skills acquired by individual members of a community as well as their learned behaviour, habits and techniques which are passed on from one generation to another.
Beside, culture is also a complex totality of material objects, items of behaviours and ideas m a varied degree.
This is the difference in exposure to one’s culture and the age, that is, the more you grow, the more of your culture you learn and know. The New Standard encyclopedia defined culture to include the material things the political institution and their habits.
From these definitions by various scholars one can infer that culture is the total way of life of a people within a particular society.
Death
According to the Holy Bible Ecclesiastes (Chapter 7 v 2) “it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart”. Mbiti (1979) states that death stands between the world of the spirit and human beings, between visible and the invisible.
However, since death dwells everywhere in this world and spares nobody, every Igbo man is concerned about the manner in which tie inevitable death would visit him; hence, they believe in bad and good death.
It is a common tradition among the Igbo people or communities that when one lives a well spent life, at a ripped age, after the person had passed away, a proper burial and funeral ceremony must be performed in respect of a good death. Most people, if not all the Igbo including, this researcher wish themselves good death.
Bad Death
On the other hand, the Igbo hold to their belief that a bad death is ‘a curse. This occurs as a result of an accident such as falling from a height, for instance, a palm tree, gun shots, murder, suicide, drowned in a river, death at a market square etc. Nobody desires bad death to himself. Every one likes to die naturally. After death comes the burial of the individuals.
Burial
Webster Dictionary (2000) defined burial as a place the, dead (deceased) are layed to rest in the grave. Burial is the commonest method of dealing with a corpse when one dies among the Africans especially. More so, burial method varies, some bury their deceased in the house where the person lived till the time of death. Some as well bury the dead in the compound while others bury behind their compounds.
Nevertheless, the attitude of people towards burial in lgbo community is a reflection of their belief that death marks the permanent physical separation of an individual from ones kits and kins. Therefore, ceremonies attached to the burial of a person in lgboland depend on the social status of that individual and the financial strength of the children and the families. To buttress this, Ikegwu Jason (1989) states that the preparation for burial especially old person depends on the financial strength of the children and the nature of death. Burial among the Igbo is an old as the early settlements.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The coming of Christianity has both negative and positive impacts on the traditional rites among the Igbo. Some groups among the Igbo are religion, they have seen it as a devoted to traditional social culture which nothing should change. While some who are devoted to Christianity and made a complete ‘ ‘U’ turn’ because of the benefits and promises of heaven in the religion. In addition, some practice syncretism which :has become a problem during burial ceremony in which all religions would want to perform their own burial rites.
In burial ceremonies for instance, traditional practices are combined with Christian burial rite. The extent of diversion or syncretism in traditional burial ceremonies in is little known.
There are conjectures too that traditional burial rites are no longer the same as it is used to be half a century ago. The extent of Christianity influence has not been given adequate study. Little is also known in the area of continuity and change in traditional burial ceremonies. It is against this background that one considers a comparative study of traditional and Christianity burials among the Igbo of topical interest. Such a study will equip our general knowledge in the area of cooperation and conflict in burial ceremonies between the two religions.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Going through the available literatures it appears that in spite of many works done by many scholars on the various themes as related to burial forms among the Igbo, there has been little or no work with particular emphasis on comparative study on the burial ceremony of Christians and traditional believers or those engaged in syncretism.
All the available literatures on burial funeral focused on each religion without comparing the similanties and differences especially among the lgbo Guided by these problems and the fact that every historical research is guided by some achievable objectives which are the cardinal points of the researcher, the main objectives therefore are to:
- examine the nature of the traditional religion of the Igbo
- Analyze the traditional burial and the Christian funeral ceremonies among the Igbo.
iii. Examine the similarities and differences between the traditional and Christian funeral
- Discuss factors influencing change and continuity in burial rites.
1.4 REVIEW OF EXISTING LITERATURE
Literature review is necessary to determine the extent of works done on the area of study. For the present study, there has been a large amount literature on burial ceremony among the Igbo However, not much has been done in the past to examine critically the true picture of the origin and comparism of Christian and traditional burial funerals. Also, no study has been dedicated to know their similarities and differences in their mode of performing their religious rites since the two religions are major in Nigeria In view of the above, the following literatures are found to be relevant to the present study.
The present study can benefit from the work of F. A. Arinze (1970). This work points to the history and culture of the Igbo, however the study failed to address or point out the activities or rites the Igbo perform during burial rites Arinze did not give details of the socio cultural activities of the Igbo group. Arinze stated that burials ceremonies must be performed to enable the departed soul to reach the spirit land. He also gives a vivid explanation that the burial ceremony is to give a befitting burial to the soul. He to say that the ceremony will make the departed soul to be happy in the world beyond and that the people (family of the deceased) often incurred heavy debts in the desire to give the best possible send off to the deceased.
Chinua Achebe (1979) Only emphasized on the activities performed during the burial :such as beating of drums without a vivid comparism of the traditional burial with that of Christianity. He said that during burial beating drums, firing of guns and cannon and men dashing out, cutting down trees to give a pleasant burial ceremony to the departed soul is a general phenomenon. People must appreciate and condole with the family of the deceased and show a sense of belonging to share in their pains and sorrow this makes the departed soul to rest in peace.
- T. Bader (1966) only pointed out the need for making burial sacrifice among the Igbo to avoid conspiracies after the burial and how the Igbo hold burial ceremony very important, but nothing was said relating to comparism of traditional and Christian burial. He explained that burial ceremonies must be performed to enable the departed soul to reach the spirit land; he believed that the ceremony is important. Bader said that the spirit of the dead needs some sacrifices to make theft soul rest in. peace. He also: believed that if the ceremony is denied, the ghost of the deceased will finally hurt or disturb the community.
Similarly, F. S. Mbiti (1970) explains the belief attached to some activities during the burial ceremonies in Igboland, as well as the physical effect on the people, for instance, shaving of hair symbolizes death which will bring about more lives as .the hairs are uncountable in re-incarnation and the growth of new hair shows that life continues to spring up. He also said that these ceremonies could cost a fortune. He went further to say that very, often, heavy debts are incurred in the desire to give the best possible ‘send off’ to deceased relatives and noted that while the deceased was alive, he might have not been properly taken care of.
Critique
This study has profited greatly on a number of works on burial ceremonies. Although are number of works on the Igbo burial ceremonies, very little is documented on the comparism of Christian burial and that of the traditional burial ceremony respectively.
There are common grounds on the traditional Igbo burial and that of Christianity but there are also areas of differences. This aspect was not discussed in literature which has justified this study. Such a study will equip our knowledge of issues relating to change and continuity in traditional religious practices and influence of modern religion.
1.5 SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY
This study is very important because it will expose our knowledge to the historical origin of Igboland, particularly the culture of the people which is so unique and has not been largely influenced by the wave of Western civilization today.
The study will enhance more knowledge and new ideas about the traditional burial and funeral ceremonies among the Igbo. It will especially equip our understanding of the differences between Christian form of burial and traditional form of burial. It will vividly portray the lifestyle of the Igbo, how they live and socialize with other people.
In addition, the research work would contribute to the existing knowledge in the fields of social and culture history of Igbo people and expand our frontier on the traditional religion of the people.
It will as well enhance a better understanding of culture and traditions of the Igbo, especially those associated with death, burial and funerals. It will also be a source of reference for other researchers on the area of burial ceremony.
1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The method adopted in this study is historical research. This involves the collection of data and critical evaluation and interpretation of such source materials before the commencement of writing.
The following steps were observed in this study:
- A field trip was made to Arochukwu community and Oral interviews were conducted with important Chiefs and Custodians of traditions
- Detailed interview and discussions were made with these traditionalists
iii. The interview was conducted in Igbo language and was translated to English language to enhance coherent historical thought.
- There was a review of related literature especially those pertaining to traditional religion and socio-cultural history.
v. Finally, there was personal observation of burial and funeral ceremony The researcher witnessed the burial and funeral ceremony of a great grand parent in Ozuzu Community The subsequent chapter attempts a description and historical analysis of event.
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