Multimodal communication from the grave: a social semiotic analysis of the Kinondoni Cemetery in Dar es Salaam

Abstract This study explores how gravestones at Kinondoni Cemetery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, serve as multimodal communication tools that convey cultural, spiritual, and socio-economic narratives. Using a qualitative method, data were gathered through field observations and photography. During these visits, the researcher documented the general layout and key features of the cemetery through observations and photographs. The study used social semiotic theory and multimodality to analyse the inscriptions, symbols, and designs of 65 intentionally selected graves. Results showed that gravestones at Kinondoni Cemetery express complex meanings through a mix of linguistic and visual elements, including multilingual inscriptions, metaphors, and material choices. The research further highlighted that gravestones reflect the cultural identities of the deceased, their socio-economic status, religious beliefs, and collective memory as inscribed by their survivors. Moreover, metaphors and inscriptions on gravestones offer insights into grief and loss, tributes, and the legacy of the deceased. These results deepen understanding of cemeteries as spaces for cultural texts that mirror the linguistic landscape and interaction between individual legacies and broader social contexts of the departed.