Article
“If You Die a Bad Death, We Give You a Bad Burial”: Mortuary Practices and “Bad Death” Among the Akan in Ghana
Death Studies
(2020)
Abstract
The current article describes the prominent features of Akan bad deaths and the mortuary rituals performed in response to such deaths. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews conducted with thirty Akan cultural experts. The data show that Akans who die bad deaths are denied regular burial rites and a funeral ceremony. Mortuary rituals for bad deaths are brief, perfunctory and hurried. There is no washing or public display of the body, no keeping of wake over the body, no presentation of grave goods, and no communication with or bidding of farewell to the decedent. In addition, every effort is made to expunge the decedent from the memories of the lineage. It is believed that contravening the prescribed customary rites will lead to calamitous events, including recurrences of bad death for the lineage.
Keywords
- Bad death,
- Good death,
- Mortuary Rituals,
- Death Rites,
- Ghana
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring April 20, 2020
Citation Information
Mensah Adinkrah. "“If You Die a Bad Death, We Give You a Bad Burial”: Mortuary Practices and “Bad Death” Among the Akan in Ghana" Death Studies (2020) ISSN: 0748-1187 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mensah_adinkrah/47/