By John Akevi
For one worrying phenomenon creeping into the social fabric of the Tiv
people these days is the way funerals are becoming competitive
festivals at which wealth is lavishly displayed leaving huge debts on
the heads of the bereaved families.
This culture of waste which the writer find most nauseating is a
common practice among the Tiv people of the middle belt in Nigeria.
The Tiv people have made funerals such a huge feat that families who
have lost their loved one mourn not only due to the loss but the
seeming high cost of burials.
For the rich,they cease the opportunity of a death to show the whole
world that they ‘ve arrived. For them,it does not really matter. I am
however,bothered about the many poor families who are forced to do
thesame even when they can’t afford it. Sometimes,the person might
have died due to lack of funds to secure prompt and effective medical
care,yet at death,so much more is spent.
It is not fiction,families sold choice properties,empty life savings
and even take out credit facilities with all its attendant
consequences. The paraphernalia for a funeral is simply endless in Tiv
land. First and formost,the corpse is placed in the mortuary at a
mind burgling cost untill all other arrangments are finalized or
untill such a time all the concerned parties which may include all the
deceased childrens both at home and abroad,his/her siblings and close
relations or the entire extended family are able to base on their
individual conveniences agrees on a date for the funeral.
Before the funeral proper,the religious institution,the deceased
belonged to either christianity or traditional is specifically induced
to motivate so as to anchor the funeral like they should. In case of
the church,all the deceased’s unpaid dues have to be paid before the
priest or pastor would show up to perform the funeral rites no matter
how active a member he/she had been while alive.
The family house has to under go rehablitation. Infact in some cases,a
entirely new structure or the long uncompleted one has to be raised
to satisfy the esthetic appeals of the expected guest. Who must leave
with a good impression or most of them are not coming because they
find it necessary to come and commiserate with you. But are coming to
asses you and gossip about it later.
Then coloured posters are printed and flooded every nook and cranny
with it,to show the whole world that ‘a rare gem’ has gone. There is
also a paid Radio and Television announcement. Again there is always a
uniform-the mourning cloth which every member of the family or any
one with certain degree of relationship with the deceaased must wear.
There is often a wake keep preceeding the funeral during which the
most obscene things happen especially among young men and ladies. A
whole lot of unwanted pregnancis have arisen from such nights with
people who came supposedly to mourn,but rather stealing away to dark
corners and having fun. Of course alcohol and music is in unlimited
supply and you can imagine the trio of alcohol,music and gaily dressed
girls.
The coffin has to be costliest,preferably imported as the case may be.
Though it would end up being feasted on by termites. Then we get
coffin bearers (professional mouners) a fast growing business in Tiv
land. In their black apparels bear and perform all sorts of show with
coffin amidst loud trumpeting and dancing. There is printed brochure
for the funeral which contains biographies of the deceased,a few old
obsure pictures and an avalanche of “good will messeges”.
After the burial,the real feasting starts. Mourners who continue to
turn out in numbers are served in groups. Some with specially
designated canopies. In-laws,age graded
mates,club,societies,friends,business associates,near and distance
relations etc.
The drinks and food has to be in
excess,any one left a funeral hungry,infact such would amount to anathema.
Now the pertinent question to the entire Tiv nation is: what
justification is there for this extreme show of excitement and
happiness at the death of some one? It really make no sense and I
considered it one of the greatest failures of reasoning for us to
still be engaged in such acts at this age. Yes,
the death require our respect not our feasting. Funerals should be
solemn occassion and that is why the Catholic,NKST and other churches
have long banned expensive burials. They did it by making sure that
dead bodies must be buried within two weeks else the church will not
partake in the burial. AYATUTU KA’UNO,KASE!!
I rest my pen for now.
John Akevi
Gboko,Benue State
08188188081