By Emmanuel Edukugho
Not many African traditional burial rites are unique, with pomp and grace as that of the Itsekiri people in Warri, Delta State of Nigeria.

Burial rites in Itsekiri custom and tradition take between one day (including all night), three days and even seven days (night and day time) depending on the status (if the deceased was a chief of Warri Kingdom) and how affluent and wealthy the family could be.

The ceremonies and arrangements are carefully worked out involving cultural displays, dancing, drumming and singing, day and night with food, wine, all kinds of drinks, kolanuts abundantly served including customised gifts in memory of the deceased often shared to guests, friends and well wishers by the family of the deceased.

Itsekiri custom accords burial ceremonies the highest esteem and any family that has not performed that last traditional rites for its dead whether male or female, especially aged ones could be ostracised or stigmatised by the community.

For the dead, there is usually a fixed period of mourning by wives, children, brothers, sisters and other relations which can vary but not less than three or six months. However in some families, those left behind can mourn particularly wearing black clothes and shaving the hair completely for as long as they want to grieve.

In many Itsekiri communities, the dead are not accorded befitting burial rites without clearance by the oracle to ascertain if the deceased was either a witch or wizard or an evil person.

If the oracle is consulted and the result points to evil or havoc, the dead person is rejected and thrown into the thick forest for animals to feast upon.

Corann Okorodudu

In most cases, widows have nothing to  fear if they are not implicated in the death of their husbands. Oracles are always consulted to find out if the widow “killed” her husband through witchcraft. Often they are absolved, paving way for full participation in the burial rites.

There are several canopies mounted at the venue, dancers and drummers getting ready to display in collaboration with family members, children and well wishers of the dead.

An effigy which represents the dead person in a casket-like form wrapped in expensive wrappers, beautiful head ties as if the body was inside, long traditional bead hanging there and gold-plated swords placed at the end corners of the model. Curtained off from the audience in the canopy and only opened when the ceremony is underway. Itsekiri called it “Uli Oku” which the family and others danced towards to pay respect and homage, all through the night. A massive picture of the dead person is placed directly in front of the effigy. There is “Okparan” chosen by the family sitting on a chair by the corner well dressed in traditional attire and long bead (Okun) with black hat to match and also the family head (Olori Ebi) sitting at the other end, both of them backing the “Uli Oku.” The ceremony starts with the firing of cannon gun shots whose thundering sounds will shake the very foundation of the entire neighbourhood. The guns are fired three times intermittently.

After this comes the “war-like” dance “Kpukpere” without beating of drums but singing solemn songs which to a fast pace thereafter with clinging of sticks as the dancers – men and women in row up and down the arena. This kind of dance takes about two hours.

Then came another round of dancing with the drums booming – “Agban”, “Iye-Ogume,” while the dancers displaced rhythmic dexterity. Ogono dancers came on board to add flavour, wriggling their waist lines to the delight and admiration of people in attendance.

A Liberian Professor of Psychology based in the United States, Mrs Corann Okorodudu, married to a Nigerian intellectual, Dr. Abraham Okorodudu, who died in March 1996, came to Nigeria in January, 2013 to arrange and perform the final burial rites for her late husband in Ugbuwangwe, a small Itsekiri community, located in the outskirt of Warri, Delta State.

She spoke with Saturday Vanguard during the traditional final burial ceremony for Dr. Abraham Okorodudu.

What is your impression about this ceremony?

This is not the first time I’ve been to Itsekiri traditional burial ceremony. It is not the first time of experiencing Itsekiri burial. Several years ago, we arrived in Warri on holidays with my husband and got information that his brother has died. It was then I experienced Itsekiri burial ceremony.

Why has it taken such a long time to do your husband’s burial?

My husband actually died in USA in 1996. Due to the ethnic clashes at that time, it was not possible to do the burial here. So we have to wait for some time and eventually fixed it for January 2013. My children are not here because of their jobs back in America. They cannot come down to Warri with me. Because of the culture, it is not possible  for me not to be around during his burial. I arrived Warri when I was given permission to attend the ceremony.

How did you see the ceremony?

I like the Itsekiri custom, the gracefulness of Itsekiri dancers, men and women, dancing and performing side by side with each other. It was wonderful. I am from Liberia, but met my husband in the United States, during the higher education. He was studying for PhD in Organic Chemistry, myself for PhD in Psychology.

Is that where both of you met?

That’s correct. We later married, had four children – 3 boys and one girl. They all have Itsekiri names, except Abraham.

I was a Professor of  Psychology for many years at Bowen University in New Jersey. I retired as full Professor of Psychology and African Studies.

Now, I am into Psychology as NGO in New York at the United Nations, chaired Psychology Coalition in the United Nations. My primary duties are in the UN system.

I will return to US and continue my work with the United Nations.

Can you recall how long your husband has died?

It’s 16 years since he died. The funeral, embalming done.

We did clippings of the nails and hairs, brought these to Nigeria in sealed envelope. Now it has been opened today for purpose of this burial. It was difficult for the children to come down here. But our nephews are here from America – Oritseseundede, Alex in Benin, Noyo, Omatsone, Patricia, Abiro. Other nieces and nephews participated in the ceremony.

I will take away the wonderful co-operation of our nieces and nephews who contributed towards the successful burial ceremony of my respected husband. It was a wonderful ceremony. Note: At the end of the ceremony after the slaughtering of about three goats for the traditional “epuru” meal eaten very early in the morning before 5 a.m, the “Uli-Oku” was dismantled, all the wrappers removed, while another three cannon gun shots were fired to conclude the ceremony.