THE CHANGING PATTERN OF BURIALS AND BURIAL RITES IN BENIN

ABSTRACT

Burial rites is one of the major tradition religious rites in Benin, Nigeria and the world at large. The major religious rites is that of a farmer putting seeds/seedling in the ground. It’s old as mankind. In the first place, burials and burial rites in Benin has three phases; foremost is that the Benin people have lined in the land of Uhe before they moved to this present place they were later called Idu and they have a deity spirit of all the Idu people called Erinmwin – Idu. Later Idu was renamed Ubini and later Igodomigodo by Ogiso Igodo first of all the Ogisos. There were burial rites and (cemetery) Ikpȩkpȩ or Iteh burial and homes and compound burials before 1900 century. Thereafter, in the second phase the arrival of the colonial era and masters the use of the cemetery for all people irrespective of title, rank, grade was abolished in Benin land. Ikpekpe was favoured and many prominent chiefs are buried in these Ikpȩkpȩ. There are several Ikpȩkpȩ localized in Benin City. The third phase was the Era of the independence through to the first republic 1960 and 1963 respectively. The traditional Benin customs and rites are still being performed, and home and compound burials are most commonly use, the activities of the nuisances reduced the fervent for cemeteries. They both have advantages and disadvantages. The roles of the local government and it environmental health and burial unit the difference ceremonies and rites for the dead, heritage values and burials across cultures in Africa and other; activities and events will be discussed. There is the Oba’s palace, the chiefs’ palaces the Odionwere (Edionwere) priests and Ekaegbe (family heads) who preserves these customary rites and the Benin traditional heritage and cultures. The Benin has duty to play by the preservation of their heritage. Finally there is the inclusion of the burial rites and tradition by other religion culture in Benin there is the Holy Aruosa Church and the Benin traditional council. Thus, utilizing the primary and secondary sources as this examines the different burial rites for the kings, chiefs and other subjects and the choices they makes as contributions of the Benin traditional council to the social, cultural, economic and religion development of Benin and her people.