A Nigerian man has ignited online debate after calling out attendees who were seen eating during the burial service of late Nollywood star Alex Ekubo.
The individual, identified as Akachukwu God’swill Paul, expressed his views on Facebook regarding the conduct of mourners at the funeral.
Concerns About Eating at a Burial
He said he was taken aback to observe people consuming food and drinks throughout the ceremony, labeling the behavior as inappropriate.
Personal Stance on Funeral Meals
He emphasized that he would never partake in a meal at a burial, regardless of his hunger, preferring to eat before arriving or after the service concludes.
He added that should he attend such an event, he would either dine at home beforehand or wait until the rites are over before eating.
In his own words:
I noticed people attending Alex Ekubo’s burial yesterday eating. There is nothing worse than this. The last thing I would ever do is go to a burial and eat. I would never do that.
How can I claim to be mourning someone while still eating at the funeral? I am not saying I won’t eat that day; if I am hungry, I will eat at home before coming to the funeral, or after the funeral I will return home to eat—but I will not eat or drink on the funeral grounds.
This practice is not limited to the Igbo; nearly every ethnic group in Nigeria does it. At a burial, you see people eating and drinking. Some even bring plates from their houses to collect food to take home.
Many are not there to mourn but to satisfy their appetite. In every funeral I have attended, no matter how hungry I feel, I refuse to eat or drink there. If someone offers food, I ask them to pass it to the next person; if they offer a drink, I shake my head to say no. That is the proper way to behave.
Come on! I know you are not me and I am not you, but this makes no sense.
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