Death, Burial and Associated Rituals Among the Banyakitara

Abstract

This article essentially deals with the different rituals that
are usually performed when someone dies among the
Banyakitara. After a brief discussion about the African’s
attitude to death in general, the article particularly
examines what happens when different categories of
people die, including babies, the youth, childless adults,
twins, a mature woman, a family head and a king. The
influence of modern life, foreign religions and death
exacerbated by recent pandemics is also discussed. Most
of the description pertains to what happens among the
Banyankore and to some extent, the Bakiga, but what
transpires among the Banyoro and the Batooro is also
alluded to.