African Funeral

Father Biney not only showed me many different areas around his village that tourists and visitors wouldn't necessarily see, he also invited me to his step-mother's wake and funeral to take photographs. One of the most surprising aspects, besides being asked to come and photograph, was that when I arrived at the wake in the evening, there were videographers there as well.

Everything was beautiful. The family gathered at a home where many visitors were staying and then filtered over to where the wake was being held. We arrived around 10 p.m. and stayed until around 12:30 a.m. His step-mother, who had a heart attack, passed away in June and they had to keep the body until August for the funeral. The family was in all different places around Africa, and some around the globe, and could not leave to come home in June for the funeral. For this reason, the family in Africa decided to notify family and friends who were not at home and hold the funeral until everyone, or most everyone, would be able to attend.

This piece still needs to be altered but for now it's a good 

representation of African funeral services

Their funerals are very elaborate, as are their wedding ceremonies. The clergy men and women that I stayed with were Catholic, so I knew what was going on during the masses, but it was extremely interesting to see the differences between Catholic ceremonies in the US and Catholic ceremonies in Africa. 

At the wake, family and friends gathered outside under a tent while the body was being prepared. When everyone was finally let in, Mrs. Biney was in a wedding dress with beautiful flowers around her and people walked in to see her, pray, talk to her, and place money next to her so she could pay her way to the after life. Many women stood next to her and would yell and cry to her, asking her why she left. It was extremely sad to see but so different from any wake I had ever been to. A few short masses and prayers were given with the clergy around her and a couple different groups and friends and family. After this, she was changed into another beautiful dress, the one she would be buried in, and everyone was invited back in to see her again. Before the end of the night, all the loved ones and supporters were asked to step out so Father Biney and his father could say goodbye.

The rest of the people were outside--talking, dancing, and listening to music. I had remembered when I first arrived in Ghana, passing a group of people dressed mostly in black who were singing and dancing by a home on the sidewalk. Sister Joana explained that they were at a funeral. When I walked outside at Mrs. Biney's wake, this was a similar sight. Family and friends gather to celebrate the life of the deceased and their journey to heaven. Although it seems so different from our normal idea of a funeral, I could understand that it is a way for them to say goodbye and try not to be overwhelmed by their loss--but to wish the deceased a safe trip to heaven and be happy that they are going there.

To view this video in a larger window, please visit my Vimeo site:

http://vimeo.com/kdalrymple.