English Project Topic: Funeral celebration in my hometown.
PRELIMINARY CONTEXT.
Bamunka is my hometown. It belongs to Upper Plateau Division which county town is called
Baham. But, my hometown is still leading by the traditional rulers headed by a king and his
kingship, acting as forefather’s culture keepers. The king lives in a modern concrete palace
surrounding by a hundred wives and custom servants shelters. My Hometown counts more than
twenty-five thousands of inhabitants. Everybody runs his private property but behaves as entire
member of hometown community. The society is divided in three groups ranking from the most
important to the least important. There are the higher class (which comprises the King and his
kingship members, sub kings, mother queens, princes and princess), the middle class to which
belongs all of heads of mystic dancer’s caste, the well-heeled people or the new riches. The
lower class concerns the common runs people belonging to the unclassified caste without any
traditional identity in the kingdom (that means the Christians people and so on).
TOPIC DEFINITION.
Getting into the issue titled “funeral celebration in my hometown” I would like to share with
you, what funeral celebration and its main features are.
Generally, funeral is known as a ceremony, usually a religious one, made for burying or
cremating a dead person.
Following my tribe usual creed, funeral is the way which implies why a person manages his life
after death to join peacefully the forefathers’ kingdom without disturbing alive fellow
countrymen in the life maze.
That means what, while being alive; everyone must follow the custom path to escaping evil eye.
It is commonly known that “the way you are alive will involves the way your funeral would be”. If
you have been sad in your life, your funeral will be sad after death. If you have been selfish
your funeral will be selfish. The forefathers will rank your soul and wit upper or down the target
in the kingdom of skull shrine. Your soul and wit will never fulfill the forefather needs.
While making known the funeral celebration in my tribe, it is necessary to distinguish two keys
aspects.
 FUNERAL CELEBRATION FOR THE TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS FOLLOWERS.
 FUNERAL CELEBRATION FOR THOSE HAS BEEN CHRISTENED AND BELIEVES IN GOD.
I-FUNERAL CELEBRATION FOR TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS FOLLOWERS.
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1-The deceased is a nobleperson belonging in the higher or middle class (mature man and
membership of juju dance):
To understand how funerals are very important for our fellow countrymen, you must understand
what our people believe inː there is a life after death! Many families have own shelter of
shrine.Mostly the polygamous families. In this context, the case in store refers to the traditional
caste of the skull worship followers. This enables all members to get into the forefathers ‘kingdom
otherwise. A nobleperson dies twice. Firstly when the wit totem dies in the bush (step of death
throes) and secondly when the soul leaves the death body virtually.
PREPARATION OF THE TRADITIONAL FUNERAL CELEBRATION.
The funeral starts with the deceased death throes. When the death arises after the tortoise
foretells, the kingship is quickly informed. Some mystic rites are needed to be made. After that,
the king must be informed on the spot. If not, there is no crying. Nobody is died. Only the king
can cast the burial decision. Then, the way for keeping corpse for the traditional rites depends
on the mystic and initiated team of the kingdom caste. However, while sending a messenger to
the king’s palace, with a healthy goat for the royal announcement, only the closer family is
secretly informed that one of their parents is died. Nobody is allowed to get into the deceased
house. Even his sons, daughters and widows are forbidden to get in. Only the mystic team send
by the king manages secretly the funerary rites of entombment. There is no coffin, no hearse and
no mortuary needed at that step. Only trunks and leaves of banana trees are used. Then, the
opened crying is launched. The friends, the relatives and the passers-by are now well informed
for the funeral proceedings. All the widows roll on the ground at that moment. The deceased
eldest daughter has a key role to play. She is the one to whom most confabulation about this
event refers to. The celebration lasts more than two traditional weeks which comprises eight days
each.
THE STARTING DAY.
The women start three or more days crying (depending on which society class the deceased
belongs to) without the male drum beat. They are supposed to cry one’s eye out interrupted only
by the new comers at the death’s premises. After three days women crying, the male funeral is
scheduled to be launched.
THE MALE FUNERAL AND THE CAPTURE OF THE HEIR.
The variety of dance groups performs for days on end with the mixed beat drums and specific
drummers. The official end of funeral celebration, presides by the king himself, starts by a high
spirits performance of initiated masked juju dancers. They appear lining up under the beat of
male drums and castanets chattering. The crowd follows at a respectful distance. Some of
dancers carry the homemade guns. The key point at that step is the public capture of the heir.
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The clamor rose up from the crowd. The eldest deceased boy cannot be choosing as an heir. It is
traditionally prohibited. Some members of juju dancers shoot guns into the air as a sign of
welcome given to the heir. That happens only if the needs of kingship have been made and when
all of the initiated dancers’ groups performers have eaten and drunk one’s fill. After that the
crowd gradually drifts away while propagating the great and memorable event through the
hometown.
THE END OF CELEBRATION.
The funeral celebration last until the sweeping rites of the death house, the clean shaving of all
family members, “the washing and wearing widows death tails”(this is a crux point to the heir to
choose among the widows whose will be caught as new wives). Also when the heir is confined for
nine weeks inside the customs grove for the skull worship internship called La-akam.
Finally, things come virtually to an end when the widow shave removed their death black tails
and when the heir has exhumed the deceased skull and got into the canary inside the shelter of
shrine. Making so, the forefathers will protect entire family and forgive their sins. The death feast
at this stage is composed of many clusters of plantain cooked with pork, beef or goat meat. The
dish should be better borne with the tens boxes of beer. In the past, people used to bring
discreetly only the calabash of the palm wine and some clusters of plantain to help the deceased
family. Today things are gone different. People are become pretty miserly.
OTHERS KINDS OF CELEBRATION.
1-The deceased is a twin:
After the twin’s death, there is no funeral celebration, except of a secret entombment inside the
family vault. Any crying is forbidden even the use of the word DEATH. The effect needed is
avoiding the remaining twin to pass away. The celebration lasts only three days like the children
funerals.
2-The deceased is a hanged person:
The dead body is moved far away at of the edge of hometown for the burial. His skull will
never be exhumed. He has no room in the forefather’s kingdom. He will never deserve any
public funeral celebration. The rope is used to carry the death body in the vault.
3-The deceased is a women:
If the deceased is mature woman, single mother, mother of twins or princess, she has three days
women crying and one day of mixed celebration. She deserves two funerals celebration. Both
held at the same time. One on his husband’s compound and other in their parents’ premises. If she
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belongs to a juju dancers ‘caste, she will have the same celebration like a noble person with the
public designed of the successor.
4- The deceased belongs to the spinsterhood or bachelorhood status:
Both deceased groups have only two days women crying and one day mixed celebration. If they
had never given living child birth, they will be buried with a stone caught under their palm of
right hand. They will deserve only three days celebration.
II- FUNERAL CELEBRATION FOR THOSE HAVE BEEN CHRISTENED AND BELIEVES IN GOD.
The Deceased is a well-heeled person:
There is no society class among the children of God. They believe be alive after death as the
CHRIST says. They cannot worry about where their corpse will remain after death. This is why the
funerals celebration of the christened people is different from others in my hometown. The
variety of celebration depends on the wealth of de family. More you have and share more
profligate will be your funeral celebration and your fame will greatly make a reputation.
Funeral starts by the death throes. When formed, the parish pastor or priest comes to the dying’s
house to commiserate or to sing dying’s praises. After death, they come back again to plan with
the family members when and where church service will be cast. Then the corpse is moved in the
mortuary carrying by a hearse. The way back is planned to be at the D day eve.
BURIAL PREPARATION.
While waiting the burial day, family members remain fully active. The head of family plays a
key role. At that stage, the future heir remains faceless and unknown. Friends, parents and
relatives are well be informed after been receiving the printed leaflet of the death
announcement including the deceased life resume. Numbers of gatherings are held on to
prepare the D day. Preliminary consultations among the entire family stands on for listing all the
items needed. Much the family has the in-laws the greatly will be the funeral. The death kitty is
bet on and everyone has to contribute. That is unique way to share condolences. All the step
persons must be informed to bring one’s death ritual dishes. The head of family is in charge of
collecting and share. Even the intermixed tribes’ married people cannot escape this habit.
While preparing for the issue in store, family must think of main items usually prescribed. Such
asː
 Ordering caterer service for hundred guests or more with the barrels of draught beer for
death dinner party.
 Hanging up an advertising cloths treamer painting with the burial schedule.
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 Selling deceased picture T-shirts printed or loincloths uniform and the matching scarves
assorted.
 Drinking must be French Wine, hard liquor, boxes of bottle of local made beer or
imported.
 Death dishes will comprise full of pickup truck of bags of rice, crates of tomatoes and
vegetables, cardboards of fish.
 Meal should refer to cows, pork, goats and chicken depending on the scale of the guests’
attendance.
Every family member will ensure that he or she has accommodated one’ storeroom dishes for his
or hers owns privacy guests.Even if the main death dinner party has been planned.
THE DEATH VIGIL AND THE BURIAL.
The death vigil celebration starts with the remove of corpse from the mortuary. The first church
service begins with the liturgy and prayers of the parish priest or pastor. Sometimes both are
concerned. The funeral procession with the march past stretch out on the beat of church band and
choir. People line up behind the hearse leading by the closer family which carries the deceased
poster and the spray of flowers.
The death vigil lasts all night long with a second church service. The deceased will spend only
one last night at home into the crying atmosphere. If the deceased died with the swelling
stomach, there are some traditional rites to apply before burial.
The final day begins with the traditional women crying. After that the last church service stands.
While servicing, the priest or pastor shows the successor to the crowd. He has been appointed at
the death vigil by the closer family. Final church service ends after the blessing of theburial,
following by the main dinner party. After that the guests and the crowd gradually drifts away
from the death premises. All family members hold the last gatherings to share their impress and
sweep the death house.
CONCLUSION.
There is much to say about death in my tribe. We are just given a snapshot of what our tribe
coping with life and death. Therefore, we had considered only the two main aspects without
being exhaustive. We are in a modern context. Funeral celebration has become a flourished
death industry or commercial fair. Today, it is also commonly observed that, the paganism and
the Christian funeral celebration are intermixed sometimes. There is not perceived barrier
between traditional funeral and Christian funeral celebration though. That is called “laity funeral
celebration”.
People usually think of the wide-ranging of their would-be funeral, instead of taking care how to
handle the widows and orphans statement.
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LEXICALGUIDE(ENGLISH/FRENCH).
Death: Mort.
Deceased : Decedé
Hearse: corbillard.
Coffin: cercueil.
Mortuary:Morgue.
Deathvigil:veilléemortuaire.
Funeral:Obseques.
Funerals:Funérailles.
Death throes:agonie.
Burial:enterrement.
Entombment:enterrement.
Familial vault:caveau familial.
Deceased House:maisonmortuaire.
Widow:veuve.
Heir:Héritier.
Spray of flowers:gerbes de fleur.
Death kitty:cagnottemortuaire.
Custom grove:bosquetsacré.
Laity funeral:obsequeslaiques.
Soul:Ame.
Wit:Esprit.
Usualcreed:croyancesusuelles.
Forefathers:lesaieux.
Confabulation:conciliabules.
Printedleaflet:imprimée de faire-part.
Miserly: Avare
Jean MoiseJakam 5AE ALC
Customs servants:serviteurs de la tradition.
Shelter of skull shrine:casesacrée des crânes.
Storeroom:cambuse.
Skull worship:culte des crânes.
Common runs people:commun des mortels.
Customs path:voie coutumière.
Deceasedposter:portrait du decedé.
Loincloths uniform:Pagnesuniformes.
Matching scarves assorted:echarpesassorties.
Advertising cloth
streamer:banderolesd’annonce.
Barrels of draught beer:fûts de bière a pression.
Caterer service:servicetraiteur.
Intermixing tribe’s marriage:marriage
intertribal.
Cardboards of fish:cartons de poisson.
Beat of drums:cadence des tam-tams
Well-heeled:les nantis.
Life maze:labyrinthede la vie.
Clean shaving:rasagecomplet.
In-laws:belle-famille.
Death black tails:sombres habits mortuaires.
Death dinner party:Réceptionmortuaire.
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