What happens after a person dies in Africa?
The family may hold a ritual or create a shrine a few days or weeks after the funeral to honor and respect their dead. At some time later, the family may hold a ceremony to commemorate the deceased becoming an ancestor. Africans believe that anyone or anything that came in contact with the dead is unclean or polluted.
What do African cultures believe about death and dying?
Beliefs About Death and Dying in African Culture. According to Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying, death rituals in Africa are to ensure that the deceased is properly put to rest so his spirit is at peace and he can take his place among the protective ancestors.
What are African death rituals?
African death rituals begin by preparing the home soon after a person dies and receiving people who come to pay their respects to the dead. According to the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying reference, home rituals often include:
How do people bury their dead in Africa?
Many bury their dead on family land and the plot may be near the house but not on planting fields, believing crops won't grow, according to the Encyclopedia of African Religions. The deceased may be wrapped in his clothes for burial and covered with the skin of a slaughtered animal. In some groups, the body is wrapped in a linen shroud.
What do Africans do at funerals?
The day of the funeral there is usually a procession to the burial site, sometimes before sunrise, with singing and dancing. Many bury their dead on family land and the plot may be near the house but not on planting fields, believing crops won't grow, according to the Encyclopedia of African Religions.
How long do African funerals last?
Now, a centuries-old tradition has gone online. Funerals are a big deal in Ghana and it is not uncommon, in some parts, for a ceremony to last up to seven days, drawing thousands of crowds adorned in flowing red and black robes and gold jewelry.
How do African Americans celebrate death?
Black families often hold funerals on Saturday, allowing as many people as possible to attend. During the service, some guests—neighbors, fellow churchgoers, classmates, colleagues, friends and family members—join clergy in offering prayers and giving eulogies that honor the loved one.
How is death viewed in Africa?
According to the African belief system, life does not end with death, but continues in another realm. Becoming an ancestor after death is a desirable goal of every individual, a feat which cannot be achieved if an individual asks for an unnatural death by attempting to utilize advance care directives.
Why is black for mourning?
Why do people wear black to funerals? Nowadays, in much of the western world, wearing black to a funeral is the most common color and is considered a sign of respect. However, the tradition actually dates back to the ancient Romans, when mourners would adopt a darker colored Toga to show they were in mourning.
What do black people call a funeral?
A homegoing (or home-going) service is an African-American and Black-Canadian Christian funeral tradition marking the going home of the deceased to the Lord or to heaven. It is a celebration that has become a vibrant part of African American and Black Canadian history and culture.
How long after death is a funeral in South Africa?
After the confirmation of death there is a week or two before burial takes place. During that time the families of the deceased are visited by close friends and family to offer their condolences.
What do you wear to an African funeral?
Attire for African funerals is very formal, with many people opting to buy new clothes and shoes or wearing their Sunday church outfits. Women tend to prefer all black, possibly with a dash of white or red, while men wear black or navy suits. The wearing of either a black, blue or white shirt with a suit is acceptable.
What happens at a Zulu funeral?
The Zulu people believe that the dead have the same desires, such as food and drink, as the living. Close family members will throw sand onto the deceased before the grave is filled. His clothes, one of his best outfits, will also be placed in the grave.
What does it mean when a person dies in Africa?
For many African traditions that believe in life after death, it is believed that when a person dies, he transcends into another realm which is not as physical as earth. For them, death is not the end but the beginning or in some cases continuation of life. This explains why death in most African traditions is not viewed as a tragedy, rather it is celebrated with several rites of passage.
What is the difference between life and death in African traditions?
While the first sees death as an evil occurrence caused by evil spirits or ultimate penalty for sin, the second sees it as something to be desired as it helps one transcend into the realm of ancestors which is viewed as a higher realm than the physical realm.
What happens if you don't bury someone?
Those not buried rightfully are believed to become wandering spirits who were refused admittance into the world beyond. They wander the physical realm aimlessly and wreck havoc whenever they can. They are mostly feared and believed to become evil spirits perpetuating and causing evil plagues and occurrences. Often times, no burial or incomplete burial rites are performed for deceased persons of questionable character. This is to serve as a form of punishment in the great beyond since they will be refused admittance. For them, the ultimate goal is to reach the great beyond and become an ancestor carefully overseeing the realm of the living.
What is the ultimate goal of Yorubas?
For them, the ultimate goal is to reach the great beyond and become an ancestor carefully overseeing the realm of the living. Although African tradition believe in life after, the issues or reward and punishment in the after life is largely contested. The Yorubas, Lozi, and landagaa believe that the life one has lived in ...
What is the issue of reincarnation?
Most African traditions believe in reincarnation of the dead. This means that there is widespread belief in the reborn of hitherto dead individuals. E.g the Yoruba people of west Africa.
What is the origin of death in African mythology?
The African Cycle of Life – Birth, Life, Death and Rebirth – Source. The origin of death is described in many African myths. In most, death is conceived as something that came as a result of some mistake. Death was not supposed to be a part of human life and is blamed on some animal, on people or on some spirits.
What is the difference between life and death?
Life is often defined in terms of ones ability to be consciously active in the physical realm. While death on the other hand talks about the inability to actively participate in the physical realm. It is the departure of the soul from the human body, this renders the body lifeless. There are different ways by which the issue ...
What do you do with your dead in Africa? Are they cremated?
Briefly, in most African cultures, it is our hope that our dead can join their ancestors in the world beyond. The difference lies in how the deceased is prepared for, and sent on this journey into the world of his ancestors. The person's age, sex, status in society and even the manner of death are some of the numerous factors that shape his or her burial.
How do Africans bury people?
Again, this is another very complex area traditionally, as it varies from ethnic group to ethnic group, and whether or not one has bought into Christianity or otherwise. Again, the deceased person's status in his traditional society and the manner of his death are some of the influential factors. For example, if the deceased is a traditional leader, his burial is different from that of an ordinary member of the tribe. If death is not natural, say by suicide, again the manner of burial is different. Is it a child who has died, a pregnant woman, a newborn? These different factors influence the burial rite, and in some cases how the deceased is positioned in his or her grave. Robert J. Thornton's recordings on death and the treatment of the dead among the Iraqw of Tanzania amounts to a good illustration of how complex burial practices can be amongst certain African peoples given the diverse factors that are brought to bear:
What is the life expectancy in Africa?
According to a posting from the new World Health Report of the World Health Organization (WHO) released in the year 2000, due primarily to the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, life expectancies for African children have dropped significantly: the WHO calculated life expectancy for babies born in 1999 based upon an indicator developed by WHO scientists, Disability Adjust ed Life Expectancy (DALE). DALE summarizes the expected number of years to be lived in what is termed the equivalent of "full health." To calculate DALE, the years of ill-health are weighted according to severity, and subtracted from the expected overall life expectancy to give the equivalent years of healthy life..
What do Nigerians believe about death?
Nigerian’s are influenced by Muslim and Christian religions. They believe that when you die, God will judge your soul and you will be released to heaven. Traditional Nigerians believe in reincarnation. At a Nigerian funeral, you may find a woman buried in a traditional metal casket.
What is the etiquette at a funeral in Nigeria?
Etiquette at a funeral will depend on the location of the family in Nigeria and their religion. You can often expect to follow Christian or Muslims customs.
Why are funerals important in Nigeria?
From lavish meals to dancing pallbearers and animal sacrifices, no expense is saved to plan a Nigerian burial. Funerals are so important that families save up for their loved one's burial instead of medical expenses.
How long do Yoruba people wait to be buried?
Some bodies are buried right away while others are taken to the mortuary to await burial. The Yoruba people wait from a month up to a year to save up for the expense. The Igbo tribe buries deceased within two days and then saves up for a lavish second burial after. The Hausa-Fulani tribe follows Muslim customs.
What religions are associated with funerals in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, Christian, Muslim, and traditional African funeral beliefs come together. In the most populous country in Africa, you may be more important dead than alive. At the heart of Nigeria are funerals. Nigerians believe their deceased family becomes an ancestor when they die.
Why is the abdomen cut open at a Nigerian funeral?
At a Nigerian funeral, you may find a woman buried in a traditional metal casket. She may have had her abdomen cut open before burial because she was infertile. In this way, traditional religion practices blend with local religions.
What is the order of service in Nigeria?
There is no typical order of service among the Nigerian people. Services are unique to each tribe and influenced by Christian or Muslim funerals. The service may be elaborate or simple and parts of the Bible or Quran are read. People praise ancestors through song and dance.
What to do if you die at home without hospice?
If death happens at home without hospice, try to talk with the doctor, local medical examiner (coroner), your local health department, or a funeral home representative in advance about how to proceed. You can also consider a home funeral, which is legal in most states.
How long after death can you leave?
Some people want to stay in the room with the body; others prefer to leave. You might want to have someone make sure the body is lying flat before the joints become stiff. This rigor mortis begins sometime during the first few hours after death.
What to do if your religion objects to autopsies?
If your religion or culture objects to autopsies, talk to the doctor. Some people planning a funeral with a viewing worry about having an autopsy, but the physical signs of an autopsy are usually hidden by clothing and other body preparation techniques.
What is an autopsy?
The doctor may ask if you want an autopsy. This is a medical procedure conducted by a specially trained physician to learn more about what caused the death. For example, if the person who died was believed to have Alzheimer’s disease, a brain autopsy will allow for a definitive diagnosis.
What happens when a spouse dies?
Coping with Loss. When your spouse or loved one dies, your entire world may change. You may feel a variety of different emotions like anger, guilt, or sadness. Remember that everyone grieves differently and there is no sole right way to grieve.
When does rigor mortis begin?
This rigor mortis begins sometime during the first few hours after death. After the death, how long you can stay with the body may depend on where death happens. If it happens at home, there is no need to move the body right away.
Which credit agencies send death certificates?
Credit agencies. To prevent identity theft, you will want to send copies of the death certificate to three major firms: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
What to do with a deceased person's body?
Decide what you’d like to do with your loved one’s body and arrange transportation. First, check to see if your loved one expressed any wishes about final disposition or had made prepayments to a funeral home or cemetery. Ideally, there will be documentation with other medical documents.
What to do if your loved one dies in a hospital?
If your loved one died in a hospital, a doctor can take care of this for you. However, if your loved one passed at home or in another location, you'll need to know who to call. If he or she passed away while in hospice care, call your hospice nurse. If your family member wasn’t at a hospital or in hospice, call 911. 2.
How to donate a body to a family?
If he or she hasn’t, there are still many programs that accept donations from next of kin. Many university medical programs rely on body donations, and other for-profit companies, such as Science Care and BioGift, will cover most costs and coordinate with other research programs. Body donation is often a good option for families who want their loved one to be able to continue to help others after death or who are looking for a more economical alternative to a traditional funeral.
How much does a funeral cost?
15. Determine whether you’ll need financial assistance. The average funeral costs about $9,000, which is an enormous burden on many families. While there are many ways to save money on a funeral, you may want to consider financial assistance. Crowdfunding campaigns for funerals are increasingly common, and you can set up a free funeral fundraiser on your memorial website on Ever Loved.
Is cremation more common than burial?
While burial used to be the most common method of disposition in the United States, cremation has been growing in popularity at a rapid rate, becoming more common than burial in 2015. If you’re deciding between burial and crema
Can you have food at a funeral?
It’s not uncommon to have food available at a funeral reception or celebration of life. You may choose to provide food yourself, work with a caterer, have a potluck, or hold the event at a restaurant where guests can purchase their own food and drinks.
Can you livestream a funeral?
19. Determine whether you'd like to livestream the service. With the risks associated with COVID-19, many people will be unable to or choose not to attend a live service. As a result, many people are choosing to livestream funeral events, so friends and family can participate from home. You can set this up yourself with Zoom, Youtube or Facebook Live. Your funeral home may also have a streaming option available, but they're likely to charge extra for this.
What is the traditional view of death?
A traditional viewpoint is that every life event, including death, happens for a reason even though it may be difficult at the time. Judaism's process and steps for caring for a body and the honor and respect afforded to the departed leads towards a celebration of the life of loved ones no longer with us following the grieving period. ...
Why is the period of mourning important in Judaism?
Most notably, Judaism's structured period of mourning, which contains various stages for grieving, is considered extremely helpful, because each stage focuses on honoring and commemorating those who are gone, yet it gives appropriate time and ways to grieve and cope with loss.
What is the Jewish mourning period?
When death occurs, there are many Jewish traditions, customs and rituals that individuals use as a guide and follow relating to the caring and preparation of the body pre-burial, the actual burial and service at the cemetery, along with the weeklong mourning period (or " shiva ") that follows. Most notably, Judaism's structured period of mourning, which contains various stages for grieving, is considered extremely helpful, because each stage focuses on honoring and commemorating those who are gone, yet it gives appropriate time and ways to grieve and cope with loss.
How long does it take for a Jewish funeral to take place?
Based on Jewish laws, traditions and customs, a Jewish funeral usually takes place within one day following the date of death, and these are solemn and reflective services followed by a gathering at the mourner’s home, which marks the beginning of shiva. The first seven days following the funeral is known as shiva, ...
Is death a tragedy in Judaism?
Regardless of whether a life is taken by natural causes, the death occurs early in life or even through unforeseen events, it is important to know that in Judaism, death is not treated or considered a tragedy but rather as part of the cycle of life.
