Dreams and Grief Process in Selected Communities in Africa

Abstract

Death is as old as life itself. The unpredictable psychological feeling called grief is usually accompanied by emotional setbacks such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and yearning. Within these emotions also lie the reality of dreaming about the deceased. Thus, this study aimed to assess the role of dreams in grief process among selected communities in Africa and was guided by Nyerere’s philosophy of Ujamaa. The study used a phenomenological design with a sample size of 31 respondents from the Igbo (Nigeria), Tabwa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Muganda (Angola), Agni Morofoue (Cote D’ivoire), Luo (Kenya) and Gusii (Kenya) cultures. The results of the study were interpreted using content analysis. The findings showed that dreams served the roles of comfort, encouragement, warning, revelation, and spiritual presence during grief process. The results also showed that dream images can be interpreted in three ways; positively, negatively or altered image interpretation, each having its emotional effects. Prayers, purification, libations, and ritualistic sacrifices are some of the communal healing techniques for dreams having a negative image interpretation. The study therefore recommends that detailed analysis be combined with empathetic intuition and creative imagination in dream interpretation as many African communities place great importance on dreams.