pundit I didn't know kalenjin funerals were like Luos

[KenyanPlato]

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I attended a funeral in Kalenjin nation and I was surprised that you guys are like luos. yaani the funeral is one elaborate ceremony of feasting, mourning, celebrating. mpaka there is viewing ya deceased and the eldest son has to sit and watch over the body. very weird rituals

now I believe you were all pharaohs watchmen huko Egypt

[RV Pundit]

Jaluos and Luhyas is extreme.
Kalenjin is middle
GEMA is just throwing away the body - pick from mortuary - to the church - small mass - family go to graveside and it's done.

Kalenjin there many rules.
If you are married - you have to have overnight stay in your house
If not -you get buried the same day you're picked from the mortuary.

So for my father - we went to morgue a day before - with relatives - then family men have to go identity the body.
They have to help dress the body in brand new things - not won before - new shoes, socks, suits
Then body is brought to table at morgue - we pray - and it's taken to car - by family members

When it get home - it has to be taken to his house - there is no stopping or resting - teke teke.
A lamp or candle are put on the whole night.

The following morning around mid-day - the body is brought to jukwaa - again lamp or candle
At least two people must guard the body all the time in Jukwaa.

We dont bury people before afternoon - the sun has to start setting.

Then mourners arrive - queue for lunch - then family takes over program - eulogy - speeches - name it
Finally the church take over - preaching and prayers.
The viewing of the body - people line up - to see the body for last time
Then fainting and crying by the weak as the body is taken to the grave

The body is lowered - family members are given first opportunity to throw soil.

Then villagers take over and cover the grave.

Family plant flowers and a small shrub to mark the grave site.

The again people return to Jukwaa for evening tea - now politicians, chiefs, any random persons - can make random speeches. They soon leave after taking enough cups of tea and laughing. A few villages remain to help with clearing things and preparing super for extended family.

Close families must spend the day after burial in the house - generally people keep night vigil - and it generally to make the family not feel lonely or abandoned.

The following day - if he is a man - the first splitting of his wealth begin.

His sword is given to first son - his bow to the last-born son - the rest can get arrows . Family members also shave their hair.

This marks the start 40 days of mourning.

Then after 40 days - there is another ceremony - this is when roof of the house is changed - and kitchen is destroyed - to signify that family has lost their man. In old days they remove that thing on thatch roof at the top.

The rest of his wealth is then split. His clothes are given out to relatives. Also one relative is picked to become alternate head of that family - not in Luo wife inheritance - but more someone to coming and checking things.

And now he is REBORN.

He is now a ancestor eligbile to be re-born. So when I got my last born kid - I was able to "randomly" name him after my father. These are family names....not in the ID. We randomly name our ancestors - starting with those that departed recently - and if the child yawns - we say he has been re-born.

My dad I think is now re-born in many kids I bet. Those kids are generally expected to behave or act like my father - for he has been re-born in them.

Myself I am re-born of my great grandfather who died in 1930s.

I attended a funeral in Kalenjin nation and I was surprised that you guys are like luos. yaani the funeral is one elaborate ceremony of feasting, mourning, celebrating. mpaka there is viewing ya deceased and the eldest son has to sit and watch over the body. very weird rituals

now I believe you were all pharaohs watchmen huko Egypt

[KenyanPlato]

That is almost what marigolis..do. I was suprised by sharing if clothes thing. I am not even sure what happened to my dad suits once he started ailing. he now I'd dressed in sports clothes as they are loose fitting. my uncle was taken from ku and in 3 hours he had been burried and everyone apart from the immediate family gone. in my village my mum was telling me that the church has ended speeches. it is mortuary at 11 am. how at 12 and by 2 the burial is over. my friend schoolmate died in ruai a few week ago. she was burried within 2 days. she was 40 and unmarried with no kids. the funny thing is that the family first fed the mourners and then immediately burried her. by 2 pm everyone was gone back to their homes and work

[RV Pundit]

Yeap attended my friend burial in Kiambaa - tingoni - by time we reached there - speeches were ending outside the church - then body was taken by relatives - and buried. It was first time I saw Njenga Karume up close. Really no drama..quick and business.

Kalenjin would call that burying a dog or a donkey.

That is almost what marigolis..do. I was suprised by sharing if clothes thing. I am not even sure what happened to my dad suits once he started ailing. he now I'd dressed in sports clothes as they are loose fitting. my uncle was taken from ku and in 3 hours he had been burried and everyone apart from the immediate family gone. in my village my mum was telling me that the church has ended speeches. it is mortuary at 11 am. how at 12 and by 2 the burial is over. my friend schoolmate died in ruai a few week ago. she was burried within 2 days. she was 40 and unmarried with no kids. the funny thing is that the family first fed the mourners and then immediately burried her. by 2 pm everyone was gone back to their homes and work

[KenyanPlato]

Yeap attended my friend burial in Kiambaa - tingoni - by time we reached there - speeches were ending outside the church - then body was taken by relatives - and buried. It was first time I saw Njenga Karume up close. Really no drama..quick and business.

Kalenjin would call that burying a dog or a donkey.

That is almost what marigolis..do. I was suprised by sharing if clothes thing. I am not even sure what happened to my dad suits once he started ailing. he now I'd dressed in sports clothes as they are loose fitting. my uncle was taken from ku and in 3 hours he had been burried and everyone apart from the immediate family gone. in my village my mum was telling me that the church has ended speeches. it is mortuary at 11 am. how at 12 and by 2 the burial is over. my friend schoolmate died in ruai a few week ago. she was burried within 2 days. she was 40 and unmarried with no kids. the funny thing is that the family first fed the mourners and then immediately burried her. by 2 pm everyone was gone back to their homes and work

My aunt was telling me back in the 40 and 50s they just dug a trench and dumped the body there. her cousin died while visiting their house in kijabe. they just sent someone to go tell his family he had died and been burried. my grandfather just read a verse and they burried him. no hyms nothing

[RV Pundit]

Interesting. You must have been folks who threw the bodies to hyenas.

Kalenjin the best burial is when someone dies from old age. No one is allowed to cry. People sing and celebrate.

[gout]

I had thought covid protocols would really change the funerals culture but wapi. The business aspect is keeping it an elaborate affair.

[Njuri Ncheke]

I attended a funeral in Kalenjin nation and I was surprised that you guys are like luos. yaani the funeral is one elaborate ceremony of feasting, mourning, celebrating. mpaka there is viewing ya deceased and the eldest son has to sit and watch over the body. very weird rituals

now I believe you were all pharaohs watchmen huko Egypt

I was also very perplexed to find out the same basically my close friend apo Kericho Tea hotel told me thats how they do funerals. I was very surprised Kalenjin are like luo but I guess its a nilotic thing,mbaluja are basically part of them apart from language.

[Njuri Ncheke]

Jaluos and Luhyas is extreme.
Kalenjin is middle
GEMA is just throwing away the body - pick from mortuary - to the church - small mass - family go to graveside and it's done.

Kalenjin there many rules.
If you are married - you have to have overnight stay in your house
If not -you get buried the same day you're picked from the mortuary.

So for my father - we went to morgue a day before - with relatives - then family men have to go identity the body.
They have to help dress the body in brand new things - not won before - new shoes, socks, suits
Then body is brought to table at morgue - we pray - and it's taken to car - by family members

When it get home - it has to be taken to his house - there is no stopping or resting - teke teke.
A lamp or candle are put on the whole night.

The following morning around mid-day - the body is brought to jukwaa - again lamp or candle
At least two people must guard the body all the time in Jukwaa.

We dont bury people before afternoon - the sun has to start setting.

Then mourners arrive - queue for lunch - then family takes over program - eulogy - speeches - name it
Finally the church take over - preaching and prayers.
The viewing of the body - people line up - to see the body for last time
Then fainting and crying by the weak as the body is taken to the grave

The body is lowered - family members are given first opportunity to throw soil.

Then villagers take over and cover the grave.

Family plant flowers and a small shrub to mark the grave site.

The again people return to Jukwaa for evening tea - now politicians, chiefs, any random persons - can make random speeches. They soon leave after taking enough cups of tea and laughing. A few villages remain to help with clearing things and preparing super for extended family.

Close families must spend the day after burial in the house - generally people keep night vigil - and it generally to make the family not feel lonely or abandoned.

The following day - if he is a man - the first splitting of his wealth begin.

His sword is given to first son - his bow to the last-born son - the rest can get arrows . Family members also shave their hair.

This marks the start 40 days of mourning.

Then after 40 days - there is another ceremony - this is when roof of the house is changed - and kitchen is destroyed - to signify that family has lost their man. In old days they remove that thing on thatch roof at the top.

The rest of his wealth is then split. His clothes are given out to relatives. Also one relative is picked to become alternate head of that family - not in Luo wife inheritance - but more someone to coming and checking things.

And now he is REBORN.

He is now a ancestor eligbile to be re-born. So when I got my last born kid - I was able to "randomly" name him after my father. These are family names....not in the ID. We randomly name our ancestors - starting with those that departed recently - and if the child yawns - we say he has been re-born.

My dad I think is now re-born in many kids I bet. Those kids are generally expected to behave or act like my father - for he has been re-born in them.

Myself I am re-born of my great grandfather who died in 1930s.

I attended a funeral in Kalenjin nation and I was surprised that you guys are like luos. yaani the funeral is one elaborate ceremony of feasting, mourning, celebrating. mpaka there is viewing ya deceased and the eldest son has to sit and watch over the body. very weird rituals

now I believe you were all pharaohs watchmen huko Egypt

All this because someone has died?? This basically leaves the family even more poorer,heard kwa mbaluja they sweep clean the compound of any edible animal,mbuzi,kuku,sungura,ngombe,kondoo etc.
Atleast new clothes for dead is only similarities we have
Funny stuff when we buried my uncle in new shoes and they didnt fit in the coffin when it was being closed my dad aptly removed them from him straight there in the morgue put them on and his old shoes he was wearing put on my uncle and exclaimed how lucky he was God had done that to gift him new shoes. We all looked on silently.

[RV Pundit]

In Kalenjin the biggest expenses.
1) Cow must be slaughtered - if you're man - big bull - so generally 50K for the bull unless you have one
2) The next is budget for food - mostly rice
3) Coffin and related paraphalia for lowering the grave.
4) Chairs and tents - and related sound systems

So generally, budget of min 100K is required.

Unlike in Luo - the villagers in kalenjin contribute - money, firewood, milk, vegetables - for the grieving family.
The entire village and family come together - and share the grief.

There is no feasting or one week of disco matangas or sex orgies - villagers generally come to share the grief and lessen the pain.

If you're very poor - you die today - they dont take you to morgue - you have overnight stay at home - they prepare the coffin using half cuts
Tomorrow they bury you.
Villagers contribute milk, firewood, etc

All this because someone has died?? This basically leaves the family even more poorer,heard kwa mbaluja they sweep clean the compound of any edible animal,mbuzi,kuku,sungura,ngombe,kondoo etc.
Atleast new clothes for dead is only similarities we have
Funny stuff when we buried my uncle in new shoes and they didnt fit in the coffin when it was being closed my dad aptly removed them from him straight there in the morgue put them on and his old shoes he was wearing put on my uncle and exclaimed how lucky he was God had done that to gift him new shoes. We all looked on silently.