(I didn't take any photo of the funeral)
I attended a funeral in the village where I'm staying.
It was third experience in malawi, 1st and 2nd were for fathers of my colleagues, and yesterday was for one of villagers.
It was so hard to meet the people who lost their family or friend.
Honestly, I used to be excited little bit to see the culture of funeral in malawi, which is in africa(of course it was on my own), but always I had to feel their sadness and missing.
1. the place of funeral
It is made up at his/her house normally.
And their neighberhood comes, and helps them.
Most of all, a foreigner like me can enter the village after allowed by his/her family or elders of the village.
(I didn't need to be allowed yesterday because it was also my village)
And then, someone helps and guieds visitor as their sex.
2. Role by sex
There is difference of role by sex , when they have this kind of ceremony.
Women stay nearby the deceased, and prepare some food for visitors during the funeral.
When I condoled in the other time, he(the deceased) was lying in a coffin which was located in the center of the room. And his wife, sisters, and the other female relatives were stting and staying just next to him. It was very impressing to me and I also joined them for a while.
Men take care of visitors and manage the funeral generally, and when the deceased should be moved to a burial place, they follow and help to bury. Women can't join the march to the place.
When I arrived the house, he was being moved already, so I met only female family members and neigbors.
3. General schedule
The schedule of funeral is up to their religion.
I'm not 100% sure, but if the information from my experience and my malawian friends is correct,
Christian funeral has 2 days, and they bury the deceased in the after noon(around 3pm).
And muslim funeral has only 1 day, and the deceased should be sent before noon.
They have just a few days for funeral, but their neigborhood participate it for granted.
The funeral is one of the most important parts of their life, so I had to arrange our work schedule for my colleagues who wanted to condole.
4. Special culture
In Korea, we have some special culture that I couldn't hear from the other countries, which is to keep crying and saying some words that sound like sobbing.
But I saw similar culture in malawi. The people, especially who is sitting down with the deceased, were keeping crying and saying. I couldn't cry at the moment(because I was not related with him), I could think about the meaning of death for Malawian though.
I didn't plan to explain their culture and what I experienced, but wanted to share what I thought and felt. Anyway I had to sort out what was different and impressing for me in order to tell you what I wanted to share at the first time.
I feel the death is just far, but it appears suddenly and closely.
I lost my mother when I was very young, so I the funeral reminds me to think of her, and it's happy for me, ironically.
I could talk about what we can know and predict in our life to my friend from korea in chance last night, even if I didn't tell him that I went to a funeral. Nobody knows if we will get hurt, sick, and die tomorrow. It is same condition to live for everyone even the people who lived in the past, and who will live in the future.
From time to time, I consider what I want to do, what I feel missing, if I have to die today.
And I decied to do them right now! although I don't know when I'll forget it again! lol
If I can, I o want to plan my funeral before I'll die. Long time ago, I saw a korean film "Sunny", and it was so touching to me that the friends were dancing with the music that they used to enjoy when they were young, in the funeral of their friend.
I want to display my photos of my whole life, and play all the song that I liked during my funeral. Or people can bring some memorial stuff and share its story.
Most of all, I wish that they can have time to talk and think about me with the people who loved me.
Although I don't know when I'll do, but I do hope my funeral will make my people remember me properly, and keep pleasure happily.
If I'll die tomorrow, this post should be my last will of my funeral! haha
What is the life, death, and the funeral for you?
I hope you could spend lovely and not-regreted moment today:-)
If there is any mistake or wrong expression of English, please reply and let me know!
Hi Sunny,
Your English was very well understood, what part of Malawi are you staying in? I used to live there, in Lilongwe, Dedza and at the lake
Hannah
Hi there! wow it's so good to know you Hannah! I'm staying in Salima by the lake now, and was in Lilongwe as well in last year. When did you stay here??
Hi,
Apologies for the late response, still trying to get to know how to navigate around the site. I lived ther from 1988 for around 11years, and then returned for a year in 2006 for a year to do my IB at Bishop Mckenzie it’s in Lilongwe! Ah it’s great to connect with people from there!!!
Yes! It is!:-) This world looks tiny! Haha. Can I ask where ar you living now?:-)