UNALIVING THE LIVING TO BURY THE DEAD: AN EXAMINATION OF EXORBITANT BURIAL CEREMONIES IN IGBO LAND

The doctrine of complementarity, encapsulated in the Igbo saying ihe kwuru ihe akwudobe ihe akwudobe ya (when something stands, another stands beside it), is central to Igbo cosmology. This worldview emphasizes the interconnection of opposites, such as the complementarity between male and female, the earth and the sky, spirits and humans, and the living and the dead. Particularly, the relationship between the living and the dead informs the meticulous care the Igbo take in burial practices. For the Igbo, death is not viewed as a final cessation but as a transition. Consequently, significant effort is invested in ensuring a smooth transition for the deceased, as failure to do so risks turning them into wandering spirits, potentially disturbing the living, especially their families. It is this belief that fosters the desire to provide proper burial. However, over time, the concept of a "proper burial" has evolved into a troubling trend marked by extravagant material demands, turning burial ceremonies into displays of wealth. The focus has shifted from honouring the dead to inflating the status of the bereaved. In contemporary Igbo society, families often face societal pressure to sell property or incur debt to provide what is now termed a "befitting burial," plunging economically disadvantaged households into severe financial crises. This paper addresses this emerging phenomenon by posing critical questions: How are Igbo burials traditionally conducted? How do modern burial practices undermine the well-being of the living? What are the impacts of this trend? And what factors contribute to the current escalation of burial costs? Employing a method of critical analysis, this study draws on journals, books, online articles, magazines, and newspapers to answer these questions. The paper concludes that the current exorbitant burial practices in Igboland represent a distortion of traditional burial customs. Finally, it advocates for a reorientation towards a more authentic understanding of Igbo burial rites.