A STUDY OF UDENU’S ELABORATE FUNERAL CELEBRATIONS

Abstract

Udenu people of Enugu state believe that the spirits and the ancestors who are higher than them in rank must be appeased. In order to achieve this aim, they get involved in several propitiatory rites and customs for the dead in order to appease the gods and the spirit of the departed by according respect and special rite to the corpse before it is buried. This is done by providing food and other items with the belief that the dead still needs such things in the underworld. Burial rites is an integral part of Igbo society and religious life since death which is the final end of man on earth has been part of the Igbo. It follows that burial rites had also been an integral part of Udenu people’s religious life. Burial which is the act or ceremony of burying a dead body is not a new concept in the academia. Using phenomenological method, the work gathered information from key informants and secondary materials from existing literatures. Death is inevitable to human race and everybody must be ready and prepared to face the bullet of death anytime no matter your age, sex or races. Death is natural which put an end to all earthly plans, dreams, desires and endeavours and whatever had a beginning must end up somewhere. It is believed that after the cessation of life, the body must decompose to mother-earth to avoid odour which will saturate the environment of those alive. It is advisable that the family of the deceased must bury the dead which is one of the corporal works of mercy.