Nigerian In-Laws Honor Magoha with Unique Rituals
The late Professor George Magoha was a respected individual in Kenya and has been mourned by many.
However, his in-laws from Nigeria stood by him even in death and showed their love and affection towards him in a unique way.
The family was seen surrounded by the hearse carrying Magoha’s body before it left the mortuary.
Four men dressed in white covered from head to toe stood by the vehicle, and behind them, a man and woman were dawning Nigerian attire.
At the front of the hearse, a woman stood with a hand fan and used it to tap the windscreen thrice.
The four men lifted wooden rods over the vehicle for a few seconds and then moved rhythmically to the back of the vehicle before the procession made its way to the Starehe Boys’ Centre.
Two police riders led the motorcade and when they reached the school’s entrance, Magoha’s in-laws conducted a second ritual before his body was removed for viewing.
The in-laws lined up, with the four men leading the way and this time joined by women dawned in traditional Nigerian attire, blue kitenge dresses with red headscarves.
In unison, the four men jumped multiple times around the car while chanting dirges and then led the team to dance around the hearse twice.
After the short ritual, the vehicle proceeded, but the in-laws remained, dancing to the beat of music played by traditional drummers.
White and red are the preferred colours for funerals in Nigeria, and this was evident in the all-white attire of the men and red headscarves of the women.
The mood was generally celebratory for Magoha, who lived a long and successful life, and the in-laws expressed this by dancing and singing.
Nigerian funerals are known to be full of music, singing and dancing, as they believe it improves the deceased’s chances of having a better afterlife.
The way they celebrated his life and mourned his death showed the depth of their cultural beliefs and customs.
The display of love and respect by the in-laws was a fitting honour to the late Professor Magoha and was a memorable moment for those who witnessed it.
Nigerian In-Laws Honor Magoha with Unique Rituals