Cremation — The new trend in funeral observance
It is new to our culture and so the mention of it sends some funny feeling down people’s spines. To the traditionalist, cremation of corpses is a “no no”.
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No matter which way one looks at it, cremation is gradually creeping into our traditional funeral observance as an option for burying the dead. Increasingly, families and friends are being alerted to the wishes of their relations for their bodies to be cremated when they die. This wish, perhaps, is an acknowledgement of the simplicity and neatness of cremation more than any other method.
Cremation is not a new practice in Ghana, particularly in the city of Accra. A more modern approach to the practice, adopted by the Lashibi Funeral Home in Accra, has an appeal that resonates with some people.
For those who object to cremation, particularly those strongly influenced by traditional beliefs, it is a complete wipeout of a person’s soul and his/her spiritual presence in the family.
Traditional beliefs
In a conversation with a traditionalist, he explained that death is not an end to a person’s life as per the Akan tradition. It also does not mean a complete separation from the family. He explained that when people die, their souls continue to live on and their spirits hover around listening in and watching on.
He cited dreams about the dead and reincarnation to prove his point that after the physical separation, the dead still live on and can come back by way of rebirth. It is for this reason that in the Akan society when someone dies, he or she is said to have gone to the ancestors, or as simply said, “waka baabi,” literally meaning that he or she is somewhere else.
Cremation is, therefore, totally unacceptable and not in consonance with traditional beliefs and so once a corpse is cremated, there is what a traditionalist describes as “an intentional separation for good”.
Emotional hurt
To some others, cremation is more of an emotional hurt. Though dead, the mere thought of someone they have known and related closely with being put through an “inferno” until the body is reduced to ashes is cruel and should not be presented as an option.
To them, burial with all the wreaths over the tomb and an occasional visit to the graveside with flowers is more of an honour and respect to the dead.
Biblical stance
To some Christians, cremation has no biblical stance. To those believers, the Bible talks about the “mystery of resurrection,” where at the last trumpet, the dead will be raised imperishable and caught up in heaven with the living. Their question is, “How will those cremated be raised on that resurrection day”?
Option of burial
So despite the objections, why is cremation slowly but increasingly making a way into our traditional funeral observance? Individuals are making it their death wishes and ensuring in advance that upon their demise, their families and friends oblige their request.
For the great majority who are in agreement with cremation, they favour it because of its simplicity and tidiness compared to burials. The state of our public cemeteries does not encourage burials, as we see cemeteries as a resting place for departed loved ones. A number of people are, therefore, opting for cremation instead of burial.
Some of the public cemeteries in the cities and towns are said to be over-grown with weeds, over-used and congested. Shallow graves are sometimes dug over old graves, leaving some portions of those cemeteries smelling badly while inadequate security enables grave diggers to disturb the dead.
In Accra where the popular Osu and Awudome public cemeteries have been over-stretched to their limits, one wonders the plans the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has in place for new public cemeteries.
The vacuum has created the need for private entrepreneurs to enter the business of private cemeteries. To add to that is the option of cremation, which some families believe is a much simpler and neater way to commit their loved ones when they die.
The questions arising from cremation mostly arise from emotions. The real question, however, is whether it satisfies one’s faith and lessens the financial and social burdens associated with our funeral ceremonies.