The true cost of a Nigerian funeral

A cemetery
A cemetery (Photo credit: Mike)

Nigerian funerals are deeply rooted in tradition and perpetuated by culture. If you have ever experienced a Nigerian funeral, you will know it is a most elaborate and expensive event. Some can cost much more than a wedding and can put a family in serious debt. A large majority of Nigerians believe their deceased family becomes an ancestor when they die. 

Most funerals start with a “wake keep” that may include dancers and live entertainment, lavish meals and drink for those paying their respect a few days before the burial. The deceased family household is forced to cater for all the guests who may stay until the entire burial rituals are over. On the day of the burial, there is the obligatory motorcade with flashing lights and sirens with a huge picture of the deceased displayed on the vehicle for curious onlookers. The immediate family members are all dressed to impress in the same pattern of clothing and the kinsmen and other relatives are also outfitted in matching traditional wear.

 Oftentimes, family members will display billboards on the street corners to notify the community of the death of their relative. Sometimes there are even five or more billboards placed strategically in various parts of the town. In addition to billboards, some families place full-page advertisements in the newspapers to notify the public of the event. There is the expenditure on the caskets which sometimes have gold-encrusted pieces attached to match fitting outfits and dancing pallbearers. Let us not forget the lavish meals and attendees to be catered for (sometimes an entire town might be in attendance) and there are the animal sacrifices (which may be contributed by other family members and guests). In some cases, the deceased is kept in the morgue for several months, or even years, because the family members want to gather sufficient funds to give the departed a fitting burial.

This traditional observance seems to be common to various tribes in many African countries. The patriarchal system puts the burden on the eldest son in the family to announce the demise of the father to the elders of his kinsmen as well as the church before commencing burial proceedings. Many Nigerians believe it is in the best interest of their loved ones to have a fitting (extravagant) burial even if it means incurring heavy debt to satisfy tradition.

In many western cultures, funerals cost much less, and the dead is equally celebrated. In Hindu culture, for example, the dead is cremated on wooded pyres and celebrated with prayers and singing, rice balls are placed around the body draped in flowers, sometimes a lamp is placed near the head of the body and water is sprinkled on the body with food being offered. The celebration is as lavish as most African and Nigerian funerals but cost a lot less.

Though burial and funeral rites differ across different cultures in Nigeria, most people believe that giving the dead a proper burial is an important tradition that must be sustained. In some parts of Nigeria, burial rites last for a week or days. It is a tradition that is being passed from one generation to another. In some traditions in Nigeria, the men in the family shave their heads within a few days after burial as a cleansing ritual and the women do the same after about a month after burial. The immediate family members of the deceased also perform a traditional dance to pay their respect and are forbidden to mourn another deceased person until they have completely concluded burial rituals for their loved ones.

Those who decide to have a moderate funeral ceremony are seen as poor, wretched and are in danger of losing the respect of the society. Consequently, many people go as far as selling their family lands or incur debts to give the dead a “fitting” burial.

In my opinion, funeral expenses should be minimal, but who am I to judge.

Subrina Hall Azih is a Trinidadian Educator residing in New York.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *