Monday, June 28, 2010


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I refer to the masterpiece of an article entitled as above, written by one Valentine Obienyem of Awka, published in your Friday 28th May 2010 edition, at page 19.
I come from Anambra State, too, but I have lived in Lagos for 40 years, since 1970!

After reading the said article by Mr. Obienyem, I shed tears of joy that some people are now condemning (like Obienyem) some of the degenerating practices of Ndigbo, especially where it relates to burial ceremonies, etc. His views are in tandem with mine, which I had humbly articulated in my book, entitled: “LEGACY” published in 2006 where I forbade my family (and all the readers of the book) from spending lavishly over my funeral whenever it occurs.

I wrote that my coffin must be the cheapest in the market; that there must be no shoes and wristwatch on me and that my clothes must not be new but one of those which I had won for at least two years. I listed many other don’ts, the aim is to minimize to the barest what they have to spend just to bury me. I closed the admonition by stating: “If any guest complains or does not like the “minimum expenses” exhibited at my burial, let him/her wait until he/she dies so that his/her own family would “teach” mine how to be expensive and extravagant”! I still stand by it.

If only those of us who are opposed to the funeral-vanity-show would advise our families in advance (like me) the ugly practice (e.g. a souvenir/ take-away at a funeral) will be greatly reduced. Otherwise our people (Ndigbo) would soon stand our culture and decency on the head, in a mad bid to copy another culture.

Dr Ogbunugafor writes from Surulere, Lagos, P.O. Box 5659 Surulere Post Office [101014]

This aspect of igbo culture needs to be reviewed as the money spent on burials can be outrageous.