The Impact of Christianity on Traditional Burial and Funeral Rites of Kasena People in Northern Ghana

Abstract

This study seeks to make an inquiry into the traditional view and approach to death, burial, and funeral rites of the Kasena people of Northern Ghana. It will also take a look at the kind of changes Christianity influenced on the Kasena people of northern Ghana. The research was thus focused on the traditional funeral rites of the Kasena people and the changes therein that are attributable to the alien Religion-Christianity. The study was designed to identify the specific changes that can easily be observed in the traditional funeral ritual process as a result of the introduction of Christian religious beliefs and practices in Kasena society. The study also looked at the history and development of Christianity in Ghana as a whole and specifically in Kasena society. This research design was solely qualitative and was based on review of documents, some of which are unpublished. Participants observation was not initially anticipated but opportunity was later given for the researcher to observe the performance of fresh funerals in both traditional and Christian ways. Data was also collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The focus group discussions were conducted for Christian religious leaders-a funeral committee made up of members from various Christian denominations. It is formed by what is called “the joint council of churches”. Traditional sextons were purposely selected for an in-depth interview. The bayƐ (also called burial experts or undertakers) were also taken through focus group discussion to unravel the traditional burial ritual processes in Kasena traditional society. The data analysis concentrated on the Kasena traditional funeral rites and customary processes for both lu-lia (wet or fresh funeral) and lu-fula (dry or the final funeral rite). It included the Christians involvement in the funeral rites of the Kasena people. It also looked at the Christian teaching about Kasena traditional rituals. What Christians are allowed to actively participate in and what they are not.The significance of Kasena traditional funeral rituals regarding social control, socialization, taboos and the tendencies for conflict between the two religious persuasions. Findings made from the research are the consensus building and tendencies for religious conflict in the Kasena society. While it emerged that largely, the two religious believers have found a way of co-existing peacefully, one can also identify some aspects where traditional funeral rites have defied the speedy replacement of traditional funeral processes by those of Christianity. The point of divergence in funeral rites between the two religions is described here as dysfunctional and conflictual. It is needful to argue that Christianity has impacted a great deal on the socio-cultural and religious lives of Ghanaian people leading to social change in many of the traditional societies of Northern Ghana including the Kasena people.