A CRITIQUE OF THE CHANGING TRENDS IN IGBO TRADITIONAL CONCEPTUALISATION OF DEATH AND FUNERAL RITES

Marcel Onyibor

Abstract


Death is a universal phenomenon common to all temporal beings. The human being as the being for whom its being is both a reality and an issue is confronted by the phenomenon of death with special significance and force. This significance and force resonate in the various conceptions of death in the various cultures of humanity. Conceptually, Igbo belief about death is rooted in their cosmological understanding of the world, which they believe exists in three realms namely; sky above, elu igwe, the solid earth, ala, and the underworld, ala-mmuo with an ontological inextricable link between them. Each of these spheres is significant, as there is continuous effort at unravelling mysteries of existence and the forces behind them. The problem of death is taken up in this paper from the Igbo traditional cosmological background. The paper investigates the Igbo traditional conceptual understanding of death and its relationship with their cosmology by reviewing the various literatures on the issue, and how it affects their attitude to life. The paper adopts the methodology of critical analysis and interpretation of the various fundamental elements of traditional Igbo cultural symbols and belief systems that are directly or indirectly related to death and its interpretations within the cosmology. The paper also draws attention to the current conflict arising from the impact of Christian religious teachings and doctrines on this belief especially on funeral rites of passage. The paper, therefore, proposes that while introducing other cultures and religion in Igbo land care must be taken in the process of proselytisation to avoid what Nobles (2013:232) called, “conceptual incarnation.†Our conclusion after identifying some logical difficulties involved in Igbo conceptualisation of death, is that it enables them to humanise death, by so doing overcome the psychological anguish of dread and fear, which the thought and experience of death evokes; while motivating them to live a morally upright life in the spirit of hard work, industry and integrity, which not only merit them an enviable status in the community of living, but also a possible reincarnation ilo-uwa in their lineage. Keywords: Traditional Igbo, Death, Attitude, Trends, Conceptualisation, Funeral, Burial and Belief

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