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Agreed, There are truly not for everyone. Can you imagine that in Kenya there are some who have made attending funerals their favourite pastime and even get paid to attend the same. This is a situation to be which I truly call absurd but I cannot judge it since such a practice falls in the realm of culture which is neither superior or inferior, neither good or bad.

But just to explain a little bit more, these people, often referred to as professional mourners, come over to the bereaved homestead and cry on behalf of the family. They do help in informing the whole community of the death of a person which is a good thing but in that particular culture, it creates even a worse scenario. For the rest of the villagers who are now aware of the death, it is a time to go and feast and also have an activity to do for the week. they now have a story to gossip about as they review the live of the person who has died. Together with the professional mourner, they camp at the home of the bereaved family even for days. well all this is in the name of culture. But that's not enough, they may even support the traditional healer who comes later and claims that the homestead is cursed. This means that the whole community, the professional mourners, the witch doctor and the other villages now have a chance to divide the wealth of the deceased person all in the name of culture.

Death is truly the worst thing that can happen in that particular culture. It means loosing a loved one and in some cases loosing all your property to some strangers. This strangers also demand food everyday and also to be paid for their services. The family may also need to transport the body of the deceased back to the homestead even though the person passed away in Australia or Chile which can be over 10,000 kilometres away; a very costly affair in deed for a third world country. Death in this case can actually mean death- the end of a future.

So for me observing this culture, I have truly learnt that funerals are not for everyone. They are definitely not for the whole community and especially those who do not know the deceased personally. funerals are not for those who attend because they have nothing better to do or for those who will spend time talking nothing about the deceased. Funerals are definitely not for those who see them as an opportunity to gain someone thing from the family.

instead funerals are for those that know the family of the deceased personally. for people who are going to give rather than to get. For people who are going to speak positive things to the family and not negative things. I always like saying that if you are a person who is not emotionally moved by anything, then funerals are not for you. Also if you are likely to breakdown and cause a scene as you mourn because you don't make things any better. it would make more sense for you to go see the family in private, especially after every one else has left and show them genuine sympathy and show genuine love and comfort.

Learn more about this author, Magu Nguru.
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