By Jethro Ibileke
Following the ban placed on mourning and funeral rights by the Benin palace during the Igue festival, there has been an increase in burial ceremonies in Benin City.
Igue festival which signifies the beginning of a new year in Benin Kingdom, commences on 14 December and will last till the new year, 2025.
No form of mourning or burial ceremony must take place while it lasts.
The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, had in a statement by the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Mr Frank Irabor, indicated that the ban followed the commencement of the traditional ritual Igue festival on the said date.
The statement said: “We use this medium to remind the public and appeal to them that celebrations of burial rites are not permitted during the period of the annual royal festival. We pray to God to keep death from people’s homes.”
Meanwhile, morgues in Edo South Senatorial District of the state witnessed increased patronage over the weekend as families of deceased relatives rushed to remove the remains of their dead loved ones for burial rites.
It was also observed that morgue operators are having a busy day following the high patronage, just as most event centres were also fully booked for funerals socials and receptions for invited guests.
A member of a family who was at a morgue located along Uwa Street, Benin City, Osamudiamen Okungbowa, said they had to remove their mother for burial to beat the deadline.
He cited the huge cost of prolonged embalming and keeping their mother in the morgue till late January for the rush to bury her.
He said: “I am here to retrieve the remains of my late mom for burial.
“My mother has been in the mutuary for some time, and you know that goes with expenses.
“If I don’t bury her and hold the funeral rites now, it means I will only be able to do that in late January 2025.
“As a Benin man, I have to obey what the tradition demands. The Oba has spoken, because the yearly Igue festival will commence on December 14 and there will be no funeral ceremonies at the time.”