| Act of cremation |
Sequel to the signing of a bill on cremation into law in Lagos State by Gov. Fashola, it is imperative to shed light on how the Yoruba culture views cremation. In the Yoruba culture, human beings are respected whether alive or dead. The two dominant religions (Islam and Christianity) prohibit cremation, as it is seen as being disrespectful to the dead body. To buttress this with a Quranic verse, Allah says "Then He causes him to die, and places him in his grave." (Abasa 80:21) The patriarchs of the Christian faith Abraham, Moses, Jacob, and Jesus Christ were also buried. It is said in the Bible that "From the dust we were made and to the dust we shall return." Cremation is alien to the Yoruba culture. The Yorubas are still use to the burial system in which their dead ones are interred, amidst ceremonies, especially if the deceased was an elder.
To Indians, this is their way of life. They prefer to cremate their dead ones and the burnt remains will be kept in a bottle. I can still remember the wife of an Indian man that worked in Okin biscuit, offa. When she died, her body was cremated and the remains sent to India.
The bill on cremation though voluntary, was opposed by the citizens of the state. Even from the general point of view, I am not sure that the law makers took the culture of people into consideration before coming up with the bill.
Lagos is a Yoruba state. The Yorubas hold dearly the memory of their departed family members, that is why, you are not even allowed to sit on a grave. The bodies of the dead are treated with respect. Three things are revered in Yorubaland, they are naming ceremony, marriage and burial rites.
Thus cremation is so alien to our culture and religious belief. I even believe that burying the dead is more environmental friendly than burning the dead. Cremation is not only inhuman, it is barbaric.
,dlele
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