Novel and Entertainment in Funeral Activities among the Yoruba in Kisi Town , Oyo State , Nigeria

Abstract

Among the Yoruba there is always interesting behavioural change in the way people go about the burial activities. Such behavioural change usually interchanges concurrently by reflecting love and respect for the dead on the one hand and dread and despair on the other hand. Along with this is the issue of festivities usually tagged as 'befitting burial' which they see as mandatory for positive repercussion on those left behind by the dead based on their belief that the dead have power over the living. While this seems very interesting, most of the studies on death and funeral in developing societies (of which Yorubaland in southwest Nigeria is inclusive) are mostly historical in nature and for complete appreciation of cultural heritage in traditional societies. This study, which took place in Kisi town, Oyo State, Nigeria is therefore transcending the regular studies on death and funeral which are limited to showcasing cultural heritage by looking at its touristic perspective. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to source for primary data from the residents of Kisi town. Questionnaire was adopted for quantitative and complemented with observation as a qualitative tool. A total of 100 respondents were sampled from the community and a copy of questionnaire was administered on each of them. The data collected were analysed and interpreted in frequency and simple percentage. The results showed that virtually all the respondents (99%) have either attended and/or witnessed funeral activities before. People participated in funeral activities because they served as avenues for social get-together (52%); channels for uniting with old friends (69%) and viable outlets for making new social contacts (49%). Some of the perceived benefits inherent in funeral activities included social bonding (30%), social control and moral readjustment (20%), spiritual stability (16%). Others saw the benefits as being in the forms of outlets for marketing goods and services (12%), avenue for leisure and recreation (22%). The novel aspects of funeral activities were intermittent crying and cracking of jokes when occasion demands; voluntary wailing and crying by the sympathizers; occasional hot disagreement over simple issue like sharing of food. At the point where the stage was already set for merriment, food and drinks flow easily while dancing became feverish and frenzied. At this stage it was always difficult to assume that people that were wailing and crying incessantly are those now wriggling their bodies to the rhythm of the music being supplied. Recommendations were also made in line with the findings of the study.