The Corpse Matters
For many cultures in Africa, death is a significant occurrence. It signifies the end of life here and an onward journey to the afterlife, which some believe leads to reincarnation. A corpse is regarded as more than just a dead body, and is therefore accorded respect through thoughtful burial ceremonies. Depending on the family, the burial rites could either be low-key or really high end.
Old traditions of giving the dead dignity with a “good” burial service have stood the test of time. Tanzania is not an exception. The country has 120 different ethnic groups. The ceremonies vary from one region to the next, according to the religion and culture native to the people.
Burial of late Tanzania President John Magufuli
For a deceased Muslim for instance, the ceremony is usually brief and the body is wrapped in a "Janazah.” In general, Muslims in the country follow fairly specific rites, though there are variations in customs and they are subject to regional interpretations.
At the same time, Sharia (Islamic religious law) calls for the burial of the body as soon as possible, preceded by a simple ritual of bathing and shrouding the body, followed by Salah (prayer). Burial is usually within 24 hours of death to protect the living from any sanitary issues, except in the case of a person killed in battle or when foul play is suspected. Cremation of the body is also strictly forbidden in Islam.
Tanzania has a small population of naturalized Hindus. The most common practice for this group of people is to cremate the body, collect the ashes, and disperse them on the fourth day in a sacred body of water or other places of importance to the deceased.
For Christians in the country, traditional cultures are merged with the Christian faith. The ceremony usually lasts between two to three days. This attracts a budget for the grieving family. Expenses include refreshment for visitors, buying a casket, decorations at the church and the grave, other logistics such as hiring buses to ferry mourners from one location to the other, etc. Eulogies, condolences, and gifts are sent in by family, friends and well-wishers, and some opt to have an open casket to view the dead.
It is common for people to engage in rambirambi, which means contributing towards the budget for the burial. More often than not, the entire community is involved in any way possible. Close family members often wear the same attire. known as Kanga (local fabric), or custom-made T-shirts bearing the photo of the deceased with messages of adulation.
After the burial, another gathering known as Matanga (special family meeting) takes place. In this meeting, the nuclear and extended family members discuss various issues, including the welfare of the wife and children of the deceased, particularly if he was the breadwinner. The will (if there was one) and outstanding debt to anyone are also discussed.
Some ethnic groups, such as the Chaga from the North of Tanzania have a slightly different ceremony. Loved ones are not buried anywhere else except in the village where they hail from. In cases where the affected live far away from their ancestral roots, a committee is formed to facilitate a smooth transition to the village. Sometimes, this could be an expensive venture, depending on the location at the time of passing.
With regard to leaders in the society, the burial ceremonies are a bit of a fanfare. Days of national mourning are declared and more people are involved in the burial process. For example, Tanzania suffered a big loss last year, when for the first time, a president died in office. President John Magufuli was mourned for 21 days with flags flying at half-mast.
The late President was such a popular figure that his coffin, draped in the national flag, was taken to different cities - Mwanza, Dar esalaam, Dodoma and his home town Geita, to give people a chance to pay their last respects.
He was laid to rest in his village Chato in North-west Tanzania.
No matter the status of the personality, traditional cultures strongly believe in honoring the memory of a loved one through befitting burial ceremonies.
Mwango is an Artist & Educationist