INTRODUCTION
Burial rites are the acts perform when a dead body is to be buried. Acts performed after burial shall also be considered in this write up. In Ako sub division like any part of the world, burial rites is one of the most important aspects of culture. Burial, although a dreaded event, is perceived as the beginning of a person’s deeper relationship with all creations. Burial is also considered as, beginning of communication and the complementing of life between the visible and the invisible worlds. The goal of life is to become an ancestor after death.
This is why every person who dies must be given a ‘correct’ burial supported by a number of religious or traditional rites. It might be argued that proper burial rites are more a guarantee of protection for the living than to a safe passage for the dying. Though this write up is on burial rites in Mbembe area, it would be necessary to briefly locate this area. Mbembe is what is known administratively as Ako sub division found in the Donga Mantung division of the North West region, Republic of Cameroon. It is made up of eighteen (18) villages (or chiefdoms) with the sub divisional headquarters being AKO TOWN.
The Mbembe area is divided into three zones namely; KUTA, LOWER MBEMBE and UPPER MBEMBE. Each of these zones differs in the burial rites but my focus shall be on the common aspects. Some of these aspects include; GUNSHOTS: In mbembe like most part of the grass field, gunshots always signify the dead of notables or elderly persons. The gunshot is often before and after the burial. This is one of the most important aspects of the burial rites in this part of the country. Gunshots also take place during funeral ceremonies and it is done by only men. Nowadays, this is done only upon an authorization from the competent administrative authority. GRAVE: This is a place in the ground where a dead person is buried (Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary). There are two types of graves that are usually dug in Ako sub division namely the rectangular and the rounded graves.
Rectangular Grave: This is mostly used for the burial of young persons and in cases where the corpse is in a coffin. This type of grave is usually dug in two parts; the inner and outer parts. The former is where the casket is laid to rest. It is often decorated using dresses, tiles etc before lowering the casket as a sign of last respect. This inner part is always avoided from the dug soil by covering it with planks or sticks or build using blocks or bricks and clothes. The latter is then covered by the soil dug from the grave. This type of grave is very common in the lower mbembe zone;
View of rectangular grave of late Mbieng Ignatius Mbato in Ako Town of 14/03/2017
A Rounded Grave: This type of grave is usually used for the burial of notables and elderly persons. Like the rectangular grave, it is also dug in two parts; the inner and the outer parts. The inner part is where the casket is laid and then covered using very big and flat stone(s) or in some cases concreted. This is to prevent soil getting into the inner part and it is decorated using the deceased dresses and blanket or clothes from the sisters of the deceased. The outer part is then covered with the soil dug from the grave. Rounded graves are very common in the upper mbembe and the kuta zone.
View of rounded grave of late Mami Nkongho David in Dumbo-Berabe of 09/03/2017
In some parts of Mbembe like the Kuta zone, this rounded grave is often used for repeated burial. The repeated burial in this case is limited only to close family members. Bones and dresses of the person(s) formerly buried is(are) when seen are often shifted to the corner. It should be noted that, these graves are dug such that five to ten corpses can be buried. During the digging of the grave, drinks most often local liquor like sha’a etc are provided to facilitate the digging of the grave. Some of these graves are dug in a way that the corpse can be buried with a chair, where the corpse is placed seated in the grave. 3 Many Mbembe people have the custom of removing a dead body through a window or hole in the wall of a house, and not through the door.
This is the case of persons who are members of any secret society or have committed suicide. The reason for this seems to be that this will make it difficult ( or even impossible) for the dead person to remember the way back to the living, as the whole house is immediately abandoned for the case of committing suicide. These types of burial are often done in bushes including the cases of accidents and those who died at the war front. Women do not view the corpses of notables and those in secret societies. Some of these secret societies include; the EKWEH commonly in lower mbembe and the NGHUE of Ande in Kuta area. There is also naked burial practice in some part of Akwaja village in Upper mbembe zone. They believed that, human being was born naked and therefore should be burial as he/she was bored. Here no coffin is used and is similar to the burial of Chiefs in the Mbembe land. Among many Mbembe peoples is the widespread belief that witches and sorcerers are not admitted to the spirit world, and therefore they are refused proper burial. Sometimes their corpses are subjected to actions that would make such burial impossible, such as laying the corpse with the frontage laid on the ground. According to HRH MBOCHAFI Peter of Mbiribua village; ‘burial rites always simultaneously mourn for the dead and celebrate life in all its abundant’. Therefore, burials moments are a time for the community to be in solidarity and regain its identity. In Ako sub division, this may include dancing and merriment for all but the immediate family most a time is not concerned. During the time preceding the burial usually for corpses kept at the mortuary, visits are paid by the people in the community to comfort the bereaved family. In the cases of Christians, consolatory services are held at the bereaved home.
The day before the burial the corpse is brought home and kept at the deceased compound. A night vigil then takes place often lasting until the morning. The night vigil is a time for pastoral case, to comfort and encourage the bereaved family. Close relatives and sympathizers make financial and material contributions which at times handed to the bereaved family or used for entertainment at the burial ground. During the burial itself the immediate family of the deceased is expected to stay together on one side of the grave at a designated place. They are forbidden from taking any vocal part in the burial. It is customary to place the deceased’s personal property in the grave, especially when it is alleged that the person died mythically. After the burial, the people are invited to the deceased’s home for a funeral meal. There is a period for strict mourning usually for at least a week after the burial.
During this time the bereaved stay at home and do not socialize. Some wear black cloths or black cloths fastened to their clothes, and shave their hair (including facial hair) from the day after the burial. Because life is concentrated in the hair, shaving the hair symbolizes death and its growing again indicates its strengthening of life. The Muslim community in Mbembe is very minimal such that, the burial rites cannot be known. However, they bury their corpse immediately after dead and is done strictly by the close relatives. The same coffin is used to transport the corpse to the burial ground and then buried naked. The grave here is not dug in two parts as discussed above and the rectangular grave is the one commonly used. A week or more after the burial the grieving family slaughters a beast and then goes to the graveyard. They speak to the ancestors to allow the deceased to return home to rest. Mbembe burials, are community affairs in which the community feels the grieve of the bereaved and share in it. The purpose of the activities preceding the burial rites is to comfort, encourage and heal those who are hurt. Thereafter, the churches see to it that the bereaved make the transition back to normal life as smoothly and as quickly as possible. The transition during the mourning period is sometimes accompanied by cleansing rituals by which the bereaved are assured of their acceptance and protection by God. Because of the dominance of Christianity, Mbembe has resulted in the rejection of some burial rites; the burial becomes an opportunity to declare faith.
In conclusion, I recommend that more articles should be written on the topic ‘BURIAL RITES IN MBEMBE AREA’. This shall help to bring better corrections, contributions and suggestions for any shortcomings in this write up.