Burial rites of women last from 3 - 7 days depending on the family choice and available funds.
Burial and Interment of Married Women
Edo burial tradition on married involves the whole community participating and supporting the bereaved for the whole period.
The burial and interment rites begin with the bereaved returning their deceased mother and/or sister to her parent's home, residents of every house come out and join in a procession of dancing and singing with them right up to the burial place.
This means as the bereaved family moves through the town with their beloved deceased the crowd grow steadily until the whole town is out and dancing and singing along with them. In effect all homes are emptied as everyone is out dancing and singing along with the family. There is long trail of dancing and singing people on the streets accompanying the deceased back to her father's house.
This dancing and singing stops at the end point location which is the burial place.
Deceased men do not leave the home and are buried there where they were born. Their bodies are not even taken to the mortuary. These days Christians are taken to church for funeral services and blessings but then must return home to be buried there.
21 videos are available showcasing traditional married Edo women burial and interment rites with modern additions.
Modern additions include:
- use of vehicles like cars, vans, instead of everyone walking along
- music set van playing all through the route
- police escort and siren
This is the way women have been buried in the kingdom of Benin for centuries. Whilst new technology and religious practices like Christian burial rites have been incorporated into it over time and over the centuries all original features, custom and rites must be observed.
These include:
*The whole community getting together to dance with the deceased around the town,
*Dance routes include outskirts and road paths,
*Compulsory stops at important locations to dance with the deceased,
*Spraying of money / bank notes on the coffin,
*Song praises of deceased by family and friends,
*Opportunity for the public and acquaintances to check that it is truly the named deceased who is in the coffin and there has been no foul play,
*Opportunity for anyone who has not mourned the deceased to publicly do so,
*An opportunity for the whole community to join the deceased in celebrating her passage into a better life,
*An opportunity for the community to publicly use a carnival to celebrate a life,
*An opportunity for the community to celebrate their customs and traditions,
*Traditional cannons are fired along the routes to announce the departure of the deceased from one world into the next,
*The Cannons shots honour a life well spent.
The burial of an Edo woman is a carnival festivity affair involving the whole community.
Egua Ghato Okpere!
Egua Ewuese Mogon!
(Long live our Kingdom!
We thank the palace and His Majesty!)
Oba Ghato Okpere!
Ise!
(Long Live the King!
Amen!)
Watch this video --->
Burial and Interment of Married Women
Edo burial tradition on married involves the whole community participating and supporting the bereaved for the whole period.
The burial and interment rites begin with the bereaved returning their deceased mother and/or sister to her parent's home, residents of every house come out and join in a procession of dancing and singing with them right up to the burial place.
This means as the bereaved family moves through the town with their beloved deceased the crowd grow steadily until the whole town is out and dancing and singing along with them. In effect all homes are emptied as everyone is out dancing and singing along with the family. There is long trail of dancing and singing people on the streets accompanying the deceased back to her father's house.
This dancing and singing stops at the end point location which is the burial place.
Deceased men do not leave the home and are buried there where they were born. Their bodies are not even taken to the mortuary. These days Christians are taken to church for funeral services and blessings but then must return home to be buried there.
21 videos are available showcasing traditional married Edo women burial and interment rites with modern additions.
Modern additions include:
- use of vehicles like cars, vans, instead of everyone walking along
- music set van playing all through the route
- police escort and siren
This is the way women have been buried in the kingdom of Benin for centuries. Whilst new technology and religious practices like Christian burial rites have been incorporated into it over time and over the centuries all original features, custom and rites must be observed.
These include:
*The whole community getting together to dance with the deceased around the town,
*Dance routes include outskirts and road paths,
*Compulsory stops at important locations to dance with the deceased,
*Spraying of money / bank notes on the coffin,
*Song praises of deceased by family and friends,
*Opportunity for the public and acquaintances to check that it is truly the named deceased who is in the coffin and there has been no foul play,
*Opportunity for anyone who has not mourned the deceased to publicly do so,
*An opportunity for the whole community to join the deceased in celebrating her passage into a better life,
*An opportunity for the community to publicly use a carnival to celebrate a life,
*An opportunity for the community to celebrate their customs and traditions,
*Traditional cannons are fired along the routes to announce the departure of the deceased from one world into the next,
*The Cannons shots honour a life well spent.
The burial of an Edo woman is a carnival festivity affair involving the whole community.
Egua Ghato Okpere!
Egua Ewuese Mogon!
(Long live our Kingdom!
We thank the palace and His Majesty!)
Oba Ghato Okpere!
Ise!
(Long Live the King!
Amen!)
Watch this video --->