Reactions over the Nigerians lavish burials of the dead

No doubt Nigeria is a land with diverse culture and belief system; this can be viewed from the differs ways of burying the dead. While others spend lavishly on their deads, others preferred lowkey.

However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which limits public gathering showed clearly that lavish spending on the dead is unnecessary.

Moreso, a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) claimed that some respondents condemned the practice, saying it would lead to committing humongous expenses, others, however, said there was nothing wrong with it.

In an interview with NAN, Ogun Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Toyin Taiwo, frowned at the practice of organising elaborate burial ceremonies in some Nigerian cultures.

He described such practice as “frivolous”, contending that although it was inherited, it was no longer in tune with the current economic realities in Nigeria.

“If a particular norm is not serving any useful purpose, it should be discontinued, no matter how long it might have been in existence.

“Another reason it has continued is because of the foolish and erroneous belief in some cultures that the dead would be angry and not sleep in peace if not celebrated flamboyantly.

“We should, however, realise that culture is not a destination but a journey of discovery, and when you discover that a particular way of life no longer serves any useful purpose, you stop it, rather than pass it on.

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However, Mr Sunday Bamidele, a sociologist, said “celebrating the dead is culturally acceptable.” However, the acceptability would depend on the culture to which the dead person belonged while alive.

“It is oftentimes peculiar to each culture and tradition. For example, the Hausa bury their dead almost immediately or on the day of death.

“The Yoruba, on the other hand, usually postpone the burial ceremony in order to prepare for a full celebration.

“Concerning the religious aspect, most Muslims bury their dead the same day, while Christians sometimes shift the burial date forward, regardless of their ethnic affiliations.