Funeral of a Deseased Woman in Igbo Land

                             Funeral of a Deceased Woman in Igbo Land.

The funeral of a married woman in Igbo land is conducted in a similar way like that of a man; however, there are variations from the man’s funeral.

Her matrimonial home must be consulted for participation in her funeral at her matrimonial place. The burial of a deceased married woman in Igbo land cannot take place until her maiden home people are settled by certain ritual observances. The matrimonial village people at their meeting will select persons to visit the maiden home people of the deceased woman. The selected people visit the maiden home people of the deceased woman on the appointed date following a free market day. This visit is called “mbege akwa”, meaning weeping to the maiden family.

The announcement of death at the woman’s maiden village should be that their daughter is sick in the hospital, and they have come to notify them. It is against Igbo tradition and not normal, to expressly tell the maiden home people that their daughter is dead. The maiden home people at the joint gathering select people to go to the hospital and see her. On the way, the representatives turn back to the gathering and announce that when their daughter saw her matrimonial people and her maiden home people, she gave up the ghost. At this point, the maiden home people will tell the woman’s matrimonial representatives that” death is a natural phenomenon and that once a person dies, burial is the next”. The Maiden home people and the in-laws will commence, “nkari ikpeazu”, (last discussion), meaning,” the redemption of the corpse rite”. This includes payments in form of money and materials. This differs from one locality to another. This is done to enable the corpse of the woman to be buried at her matrimonial place.

 The early tradition of Ndi Igbo does not allow married women to be buried at her matrimonial home. Then, corpses of married women are taken to their maiden home land for burial. This is still being practiced particularly at Asaba in Anioma Delta State, Nigeria. There, a reasonable burial ground is left at the backyard of the family head called “Diokpa”, for the burial of the corpses of his married sisters. Today, if the matrimonial family in Asaba wants to bury the corpse of their late wife, a ransom will be paid to the Traditional Ruler and his council members.

Generally, in the olden days, young men are ordered by the elders to go to their late sister’s matrimonial home and bring back home their sister’s corpse for burial. This is because the Igbo tradition and culture believes that women are married and not sold to men. Nowadays, the church and modern trends had allowed the burial of deceased married women at their matrimonial homes.

Nowadays, the maiden family of a late woman continues the burial rites after her matrimonial representatives have satisfied the requirements of her maiden home. After this, the traditional requirements for a short rite called,”Ima mbazu”, (“Striking of the iron rod”), meaning the selection of a burial site for their late daughter at the matrimonial village of the deceased woman takes place. This rite actually takes place a day or two before the actual burial day.

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

 Ima Mbazu rite enables the matrimonial village men of the deceased woman to know the portion of land selected for digging the grave for interment of their late wife. These should be ready on the appointed day before the burial date. Once the maiden home people come, the matrimonial family of the deceased woman will present kola nuts to them and after that lead them to the burial portion of land. It is the maiden home people of the deceased woman that confirms that the portion of land for burial is acceptable, if not, a change of portion will be requested. After the representatives of the maiden home have been satisfied about the burial portion, the leading elder from the maiden home prays for the rest of the body of their late daughter, 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 following are given to the maternal home people for “Ima mbazu” rite-

After the above rite, the men from the matrimonial village of the deceased woman commence digging of the grave.

  They will be served with kola nuts, food and drinks which includes beer, palm wine and hot nowadays.

These energize them to finish the digging of the grave on time.

On the appointed day for the burial proper, if the deceased man or woman was a church member, his or her 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 woman, should concentrate on the welfare of the relations of the deceased.