summary for reading page 11-19-----at least 600 words

Rumph, Brandon

Funerals in the Akan society are a celebration. They are regarded as a duty and need to be memorable events. There are variations in funeral rites such as procedures for announcing the death, treatment of the deceased person, the length of the celebration, display in wealth , and in the place and details of the burial. Deaths by witchcraft , suicide, childbirth, poison, and sorcery are not celebrated in the same way as a normal funeral. Akan funeral dirges have no correlations in form and content with details of funerary rites. It is not expected that dishonorable dirges be sung for a person who died of a bad death. Death is never regarded as a happy, welcoming event.

There is usually no less than five phases to a funeral: the preparation, pre-burial mourning, the interment, after-burial mourning , and subsequent periodic mourning. Most

funerals begin with the preparation of the corpse for the celebration; the journey to the deceased world and to the afterlife. Before a person 's last breath they are usually given a drink of water to help them on their journey to the afterlife. If the person dies before the drink of water, the death is considered more grievous and no dirges may be sung. After the person 's last breath, the preparation involves trimming the nails, doing the hair, washing the body, and cleaning the bowels.

Once the preparation is complete, messengers are sent to let everyone associated know about the deceased and the funeral details. Now the body is dressed up and ready for the public to view and mourn . Cries are let out to finally grieve. The singing of the funeral dirge is done by a woman while others still continue to mourn. The dirge is usually not an organized performance and neither is the wail. Each singer chooses a dirge of their choice. Singers are meant to be sad and if they are not while singing then they are looked down on. While singing a dirge, the singer normall y rocks the body and the head . They will pace left then ri ght and repeat while singing.

The arms may be clasped around the breast or front of the body to show anguish of the singer to the gathering. A piece of cloth can be found tied around the body to show anguish as well as to support the diaphragm . Other bodily movements can be observed such as lip movements, dropping and straightening of the head and neck, flicking the head , facial expressions , and gestures of the hand. The dirges never end but there are times of rest.

At a funeral there is a lot of social greetings and times to be social to the guests.

Refreshments are served with music and dancing, congratulations and jokes are sometimes used, and sometimes even arguments. While the funeral continues , guests are expected to fast as part of the celebration to show their sorrow. Later, the body is ready for the burial. This usually takes place the day of the death and sometimes the next day. The deceased is accompanied with a few articles of clothing, money, and then placed into the coffin. This part of the funeral is very difficult for the mourners and becomes intense with singing and wailing .

The return march back from the burial site is normally done quietly. Mourning continues until the end of the funeral is declared . The post-burial phase can last several days. Acti vities during this time include drumming, singing, dancing, dirge singing, sometimes wailing, and

wake keeping. The last phase takes place during all or some of the subsequent mourning. Custom requires that a person shall be mourned on the gth, 15th, 40th , goth and first year anniversary.

These celebrations may be large events or private family matters. The dirge is sung on occasion of the funeral. If someone has lost many family members , dirging and wailing can be sporadic and happen at any time the person needs. Most importantly, the dirge is used to honor a deceased person , to mou rn them, to elevate them, to adore them , and to cherish their name.