DYING AND DEATH AN AFRICAN CONTEXT ‘NIGERIA”

DYING AND DEATHAN AFRICAN CONTEXT‘NIGERIA” Rasheed Oshokoya MBBS, MPH

NIGERIA • Located in western part of Africa. • Africa’s most populous nation, 120million. • Over 250 ethnic groups but 3 dominant ones are Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa.

Religion • Triple Heritage of; Islam Christianity Traditional religious practices

LEGAL SYSTEM • Judeo-Christian (English law) • Islamic laws (Sharia) state level in the north. • Customary laws, customs and tradition (local government)

DEFINITIONS • Death is the separation of body and soul. • Death is the cessation of the integrated functioning of human organism. • Dying is going through a process of gradual termination before death occurs.

INTERPRETATION OF DEATH • Transformation / Transient separation from family • Religious interpretation. • Age • Traditional

Religious Interpretation • Christianity: transition phase to a higher, glorious place called heaven, where one is joined by others. Ceremony depends on age and could be postponed till later.

ISLAM Allah giveth and taketh Must be buried same day before sunsets No casket required for burial

Traditional • Believes life course is cyclical and not linear. • The dead can reincarnate in new births. • Those in the world of the dead have supernatural powers over those in the world of living. • Death is attributed to spiritual elements like witchcraft, offending one’s ancestors.

AGE • The death of children sometimes could be rationalized as; • Reunion; in heaven with parents • Reverence: serves as religious purpose and inspiration for the parents to do good works • Retribution: child’s death is a result of parents’ sins.

PREPARATION FOR DEATH • Formal: will, life insurance policy • Informal: sudden death and spouse decides. • All are guided by the rule of law and there is strict adherence.

In NIGERIA • No formal preparation in most cases. • People denies or accept death. • Resist daily contemplation (seeks power). • No money set aside for funerals. • No favor for artificial termination of death. • No artificial support. • Prefers slow lingering death at home with family.

COPING WITH DEATH/ GRIEF • Personality variables (previous experience, one’s gender) • Nature of death (sudden or not). • Availability of social support (intersects with religious beliefs), less for widows. • Religious beliefs.

Religious Beliefs as it affects grief • Types of marriage; Islamic law allows more than 1 wife, so complex if no will. Judeo-Christian favors monogamy so inheritance goes to the spouse. Customary; depends on ethnic group, eldest son takes all/ widower has no right. younger brother might take over the wife.

Disenfranchised Grief • Grief that person experiences when they incur loss that is not or cannot be openly acknowledged or publicly mourned. Adultery. Perinatal loss Social stigma attached to death(AIDS) Abomination (suicide)

CONCLUSION • With modern development, a lot of things are changing. People now have living wills and not strictly adhering to the tradition.

DYING AND DEATH AN AFRICAN CONTEXT ‘NIGERIA”