FOR THE DECEASED MAN


FOR THE DECEASED MAN

The burial of a man in Igbo land cannot take place until his maternal home people are settled by certain ritual observances. The village people of the deceased at their meeting select persons to visit the maternal home people of the deceased man. The selected people visit the maternal home people of the deceased man on the appointed date following a free market day.


 

Ndi Igbo visit to the maternal village of a deceased man and Maiden Village of the deceased women during Funerals cannot be neglected by the family


 The visit to the maternal home of the deceased male is called “mkpuru  mmai”, in the core Igbo areas, and other dialects have their names for this rite.


The announcement at the deceased man’s maternal home people should be that “their grandson is sick in the hospital, and they have come to notify them”. It is against Igbo tradition and not normal, to expressly tell the maternal home people of the deceased man that their grandson is dead. Those who violate this are expressly fined.

The maternal home people at the joint gathering at the maternal home of the deceased man select people to go to the hospital and see him. On the way, they turn back to the gathering and announce that when their grandson saw his village and maternal home people, he gave up the ghost. At this point, the maternal home people will tell the man’s village representatives that “death is a natural phenomenon and that once a person dies, burial is the next”.

The Maternal home people will tell the dead man’s home people their traditional requirements for a short rite called,” Ima mbazu”, (“Striking of the iron rod”), meaning the selection of a burial site for their  late grandson at the village of the deceased man. This rite takes place a day before the burial. It enables the villagers of the deceased man to know the portion of land selected for digging the grave for interment. It is the first son of the maternal family called” Diokpara umerenne or Diokpa ikwunne” that will perform the “ Ima Mbazu” rite, in company of some of his village people.





The Rite of “ Ima Mbazu” for deceased men and women in Igbo Land cannot be neglected  


Kola nuts, food and drinks to all present at the gathering of the two families


Once the maternal home people come to their late grandson’s village home, 




they will be offered Kola nuts, and after that lead them to the burial portion of land. It is the maternal home people of the deceased man that confirms that the portion for burial is acceptable, if not, a change of portion will be requested. After the representatives of the maternal home have been satisfied about the burial portion, the leading elder from the maternal home prays for the rest of the body of their late grandson, and after he breaks one of the kola nuts. Some pieces of the kola nuts will be scattered around the grave portion, and the other pieces will be consumed by all present.




the family of the  Deceased man will present the following for "Ima Mbazu";

 Kola nuts, tubers of yam, 1 cock, and 1 hot drink, food and drinks, which includes beer and palm, wine in modern times.

After the above rite, the men from the village of the deceased man commence digging of the grave. They will be served with kola nuts, food and drinks which includes beer, palm wine and hot as well by the bereaved family.        



 


This energizes them to finish the digging of the grave on time.


On the appointed day for the burial proper, if the person was a church member, his denomination will participate by conducting the funeral service, and receive all their dues in terms of money and food, but the chief mourner, usually a man, head of the family or husband of the deceased man, should concentrate on the welfare of the relations of the deceased





Location: Gregory University, Uturu,Nigeria

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