Restriction of burial rites during the COVID-19 pandemic: An African liturgical and missional challenge

Hundzukani P Khosa-Nkatini,Peter White

doi:10.4102/hts.v77i4.6756

Hundzukani P Khosa-Nkatini, Peter White

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i4.6756

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Abstract

Burial rites are very common among many Africa communities. In the African context, burials are not the end of life but rather the beginning of another life in the land of the ancestors. In spite of the importance of the African funeral rites, the missional role of the church in mourning and the burial of the dead in the African communities, the COVID-19 pandemic led protocols and restrictions placed a huge challenge on the African religious and cultural practices.Contribution: In the light of the above-named challenges, the article discusses the religious-cultural effect of the pandemic with special focus on the African liturgical and missiological challenges in the context of the COVID-19 restrictions on funerals and burial rites.

Highlights

Burial rites are very common in many Africa communities
There are burial rites that takes place leading to the day of the funeral, some of these rituals requires the dead body to kept for days before the funeral
The focus of the liturgical and missional approach in this article is limited to African burial rites and rituals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

Burial rites are very common in many Africa communities. In the African context, burials are not the end of life but rather the beginning of another life in the land of the ancestors. Unlike in the Western culture whereby mourning of the dead and funerals are seen as a private family matter, the African communities see it differently. The focus of the liturgical and missional approach in this article is limited to African burial rites and rituals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Conclusion