When a person dies in the Bamiléké tradition, no matter where he or she lives, the body must be transported back to the village from where his/her ancestors came from. This is a very difficult time for the family. This is a short period of time reserved for the people closest to the deceased to congregate in the village to mourn their loss and bury the body. Women and men stay in seperate houses and sleep on the floor during the burial ceremony. Everyone shaves their heads and wears black. Widows of the deceased are not supposed to bathe during this period. It is a time of suffering and great sorrow.
Preparation for the Funeral
Once the mourning period has passed, it is time to plan the funeral ceremony. This ceremony may occur as soon as a few days after the burial ceremony and as long as 15 years later. Depending on the importance of the person who died, the wealth of the family and the location of relatives, the ceremony may be more or less complex to orchestrate. There are several types of death that are considered shameful and are not given any funeral ceremony at all.
It takes an entire family to plan the funeral. Everyone with a connection to the deceased will contribute in anyway possible to make sure that the ceremony is a success. When funeral ceremonies occur a couple of years after death, it makes it easier to plan financially and logistically. People are able to save money and family may make travel arrangements, sometimes from foreign countries.
Two
widows lamenting the death of their husband, Bafou-Dschang
Flyer
posted during funeral ceremony