This archive report was first published on 7 July 2019.
Kenyan Funerals: A Time for Grief, Not Aggravation ¶
As we bid farewell to Bob Collymore, a leading business icon in Kenya, it's heartening to see the outpouring of grief and tributes from Kenyans. However, our funeral services often leave the grieving feeling aggrieved, not consoled.
Michael Joseph once said, 'We are a peculiar country, and I think this is most visible at our funerals.' This peculiarity is evident in the way some clergy members conduct funeral services. They often use the occasion to flex their muscles, making the grieving process a 'pure hell.' Some even demand baptism cards or other documents before proceeding with the burial rites.
Instead of comforting the souls of the grieving, some clergy members go on a 'fishing for men' crusade, spewing fire and brimstone. They insist that mourners accept the Lord as their personal savior, disrupting the solemn atmosphere of the funeral.
Another common disappointment at Kenyan funerals is the singing. The usual hymns, such as 'It is Well' and 'Amazing Grace,' are massacred by creating our own notes and dragging out certain bits. Perhaps it's time to pass a law banning vocally untrained persons from singing these hymns during funeral services.
Funeral singers, who often mean well but lack palatable voices, choose long hymns with multiple stanzas. This can be more painful than the grief of losing a loved one. A possible solution is to rely on recordings instead of live performances.
Additionally, some individuals show up late to funerals, demanding a slot to address the mourners. Their topics often have little relevance to the bereaved, and they can disrupt the program's timings. Politicians and random relatives are notorious for this behavior, seeking to pay respects to their insecurities, egos, and need for public adulation.
Other minor transgressions include wardrobe malfunctions, such as wearing too much color, tightness, or undergarments. The obsession with having a copy of the funeral program or booklet, which can cause unnecessary drama and decimate our forests, is also a concern.
As we reflect on Bob's funeral, let's hope to pick a few useful tips to make things a bit more bearable for the grieving.
