Nigerian comic and actor John Okafor, affectionately generally known as Mr Ibu, was buried this weekend in his lounge – three months after his dying.
The veteran Nollywood actor and comic handed away on 2 March on the age of 62 because of a coronary heart assault.
MR IBU BURIED IN HIS SITTING ROOM
Mr Ibu’s poignant but celebratory funeral was held in his hometown of Amuri, Nkanu West, in Enugu State. The burial ceremony was attended by a varied well-known celebrities, together with Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, in addition to family and friends members.
Videos on social media present Mr Ibu’s physique arriving in Enugu for the ultimate rites. The hearse wasaccompanied by his household, together with his son.
However, the car was not taking him to a typical cemetery as he was buried at his dwelling.
The video exhibits mourners digging within the centre of his sitting room in his home, the place his physique was buried.
WHY THE STAR WAS BURIED THREE MONTHS AFTER HIS PASSING
According to The La Nouvelle Tribune in April, Mr Ibu’s elder brother, Sunday Okafor, stated the household determined to intentionally delay the actor’s funeral as they’re decided to supply him a tribute befitting his standing as a cinematic icon.
He additional stated that this determination additionally emphasises the significance of celebrating his brother’s life relatively than rapidly bidding him farewell.
WHY DO SOME NIGERIANS DELAY BURIALS?
According to The Guardian Nigeria, there isn’t any cultural significance to the delays or extended preparations for funerals.
The publication reported that in some communities or villages (particularly within the southeast), the members have to provide an approval date for the burial. After that totally different teams and societies begin making calls for on issues to be carried out or carried out earlier than they will grant that the burial be carried out.
The publication additional revealed that generally it’s the households of the deceased who make issues tough for themselves by making an attempt to outdo others within the method they bury their family members. Some solely undergo with the burial after they have constructed or renovated their homes.
However, that is in distinction to an article by Myend, which reveals that the magnitude of Igbo funerals relies on the age grade or the place of the deceased inside their group.
The Igbo tribe (which Mr Ibu was part of) have what they name ‘Ikwa ozu’ – which implies “celebrating the useless” and can be known as the second burial. This ceremony might happen anytime from weeks to a yr after the primary burial. According to Igbo traditions, funerals are additionally a ceremony of initiation of the useless to the group of their ancestors. It is believed that if the Ikwa ozu doesn’t happen, they won’t be accepted by their ancestors.
