The Dead

Inside a commercial vehicle once, someone talked about how his younger brother - 37 years old died after a brief illness.

He was unmarried without any child, yet possessed properties worthy of being a 'man.'

After burying the dead, the family burnt all his possessions, ATM Cards inclusive, to totally erase his memories; since he left no child behind.

'That's the culture' he said.

Thankfully, I'm not Yoruba. But out of curiosity, I asked; 'Which culture?'

And everyone in the vehicle, regardless of the ethnicity or religion chorused; "African Culture"

"It's the normal thing to do," said the drunk driving motorist.

It broke my heart!

Though the dead is gone, and the inanity of acquiring wealth ends once the heartbeat stops, I do not expect the living to treat the dead that way.

But hey, this is life; perhaps meaningless!

Different cultures with different ways of treating their dead.

Many will bury their dead, some will burn, a few will gift theirs to the vultures to devour, and others will feed theirs to the fishes in the waters.

Lately, technology now allows some of the dead to be disposed of away from the planet Earth, an awesome invention I think.

However, the dead is gone; a fate that every living is bound to encounter - at least until future technology show otherwise. 

I do not however like that a dead without any offspring will have his/her properties destroyed after he or she is gone.

Whatever happened to loved ones sharing the property?

I've read about cases where families sit on deceased possession without caring about the departed's offspring.

And these children are left to wander in the wilderness of struggle.

There's just a single line between living and being dead.

Having watched so much of Animal programs, I see how cheap death is.

Moreover, being a Nigerian, living in Nigeria means that death can happen anytime and anyhow.

And the living will live on...

When I die, bury me with Erùpẹ̀.

Cry not much.

Savor in the experience of me that you've gathered.

Good or bad, I lived.

But please, do not burn memories. 

Let the living in need of it have them.

But this is just a wish, the dead is oblivious to life and its manifestations.

As a living soul, I'll merry and enjoy.

Nobody has promised tomorrow.