The experiences of bereaved contemporary African women in the context of cultural funeral rites

Abstract

Across the African continent, diverse cultures have different practices and beliefs surrounding death and death rituals. Women remain especially subject to repressive societal attitudes in mourning. This is a descriptive phenomenological qualitative inquiry into the experiences of contemporary African women’s grief processes in context of the cultural practices to which they adhere. A purposive sampling method was used. Data was accumulated through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire, which were audio recorded and transcribed with the participants’ consent. Interviews were conducted and data saturation was strived towards. Data analysis was done using thematic analysis. Analyses rendered three main categorical themes, namely, funeral rites, consequences, and managing expectations/beliefs. The first main category of themes, ‘funeral rites’, isconcerned with the description of the types of funeral rites and associated beliefs encountered by the women during the mourning period. This main categorical theme was divided into three sub-themes, namely, a) pre-funeral rites; b) funeral ceremony rites; and c) post-funeral rites. The second theme, ‘consequences’, is concerned with the bereaved women’s emotional experiences in response to the funeral rites. The following sub-themes were identified, namely, a) facilitation of grief; b) exploitation; c) loss of control; d) objectifying;e) uncertainty; f) isolation; g) support needs; h) lacking emotional support, i) receiving emotional support; j) practical needs;k) exclusion; l) feeling uninvolved;and m) loneliness. The third main theme reveals the women’s level of engagement with respect to the funeral rites performed. Several associated sub-themes were identified, with some having sub-categories. The sub-themes are a) enforcing rules; b) attitude of adherence; c) socio-economic circumstances; d) municipal regulations; and e) complications. The sub-theme ‘complications’ has several sub-categories, namely, a) unscientific; b) religion; c) mixed families; d) family dynamics;and e) work responsibilities. The participants differed in the degree to which they acquiesced to the cultural rites surrounding death. Moreover, the findings reveal that the social isolating effects of the cultural practices around death may havean adverse effect onthe grieving process. The bereaved women highlighted aneedfor their experiences, following funeral rites, to be known by society.