EBONYI: THE PEOPLE OF NGBO AND THEIR PECULIAR BURIAL RITES

The people of Ngbo in Ohaukwu LGA  of Ebonyi State are amazing. The village is located in the most interior parts of Ohaukwu best accessed from Nteze junction. An untarred, erosion consumed path leads to this great community of the most awesome people you will ever meet. The village is best accessed using a motorcycle but if you must use a car, ensure your vehicle has a good shock better still use a pickup, tundra or one of their likes. This community is about an hour drive from Enugu city if the route is well known.

The village is blessed with Old age with its large population of both men and women above 60 years - so incase you want to get very old and you believe location is important, you might want to consider relocating here after your active life -however, the village seem to lack any primary healthcare facility for treatment of senile diseases. The villagers are predominately farmers as they cultivate different kinds of crops but mostly cassava. Farming is often carried out by the children often in their teens and early twenties. Large hoes, matchetes, cassava sticks in raffia baskets could be seen carried by these hardworking youths on thier way to the farms as you drive into and along the community.

Of course, mud houses can still be seen in this community which would make it a perfect Nollywood setting for epic movies. Alongside natural beauty, this village is just a summary of a peaceful resting place; even with the peculiarities that comess with their burying of the dead.

Culture is quite fascinating and the best reason for this is its peculiarities as you move from one place to another. 

The traditional cum Christain rites for the dead is more than what I had expected or should I say is a little shift from what I have been used to. I came to understand that wrappers and how they are being worn plays a major symbolism for this great community.

Symbol of mourning is a black wrapper tired around the waist of the firstborn of the mourning family. This symbolizes that the family even though in mourning will be saved from being consumed with grief. When the sisters to the dead comes, she is often seen with a folded wrapper hung around her forearm and wailing with a loud voice to the hearing of all. The firstborn also hangs a wrapper across his shoulder as a symbol of mourning.

It begins with an opening prayer from the officiating priest. A formal introduction into the burial is said by the family member preferably the most eldest that survived the dead.

The dead is preferably laid in state inside the house and the family and others take turns to go see the corpse. 

Hymns are sung to accompany this part of this ceremony. 

The tribute is said by the family members which could be interchanged with the recitation of the dad's biography in turns.

Eligwe Kam obodo-oyibo