The Igbos in the Southeastern part of Nigeria carry out the most expensive burials in Nigeria. According to a report<\/a>, burial rites are taken seriously, which may lead to large spendings. The report also claims that different groups and associations the deceased belonged to may bring separate lists. Apart from that, other things to spend on include buying, at least, a cow, which is mostly non-negotiable. If the deceased failed to pay any dues while alive, the family has to pay it for them; special attire is also worn by the family and friends of the deceased, among other things.<\/p>\n The Igbos see death as a transition and not an end. The people’s long-standing belief is that the dead either join their ancestors for their good deeds or have their spirits wander in the evil forest for their evil ways. Furthermore, there is a belief that if the dead are buried without the rites of passage called Ikwa Ozu<\/a> (second burial and celebration of the dead) as practiced differently in different Igbo communities, the soul of the deceased may not take its rightful place among ancestors no matter how accomplished the person was while alive. The Ikwa Ozu is mostly done for elderly people. Hence, burying the elderly is seen as a celebration of life and mostly ends up being costly. Spending mostly in the Ikwa Ozu is seen as a thing of pride in many Igbo communities.<\/p>\n Hausa and Yoruba burial rites are often not as expensive as that of the Igbo people. The Hausas, who are majorly Muslims, believe in burying the dead the same day they die (within 24 hours). This is followed by a 3-day prayer called Fatiha, a 7-day and 40 days prayer. The Hausa-Muslims mostly do not spend so much on coffins as traditional Islamic practitioners do not believe in using them. However, many people who have been buried in the coffin use one that may depict humility and nothingness. The Hausa people believe more in praying for the dead rather than spending huge sums.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the Yoruba people have different rites from the Igbo people. When a young person dies, the people mourn. In some cases, there is a small celebration for the life the person lived. When an elder dies, there is a big celebration held for their passing into the ancestral kingdom. In some parts of Yoruba, like Ekiti, the first three days from when the person dies, a crier is paid to go round the community to cry and inform them about the passing of the elder. The crier is accompanied by dancers and drummers (mostly women). Asoebi (uniform attire) is picked for different groups.<\/p>\n Mike Adenuga, one of the richest Nigerians and Chairman of Globacom, lost his mother when she was 90 in June 2005. Although at that time, the news of how much he spent on her funeral did not go viral – probably because the internet was not so common. However, in June 2021, the lavish spending of Obi Cubana on his mother’s burial took witnesses down memory lane<\/a>.<\/p>\n The celebration of the life of Wale Adenuga’s mother purportedly lasted a week with performances from different musicians every day for one week. One cow was also reportedly shared in each street of his homeland in Ijebu-Igbo. In addition, there was an alleged delivery of trucks of cartons of beer, and there was no restriction on how much a person should have. Calling using the Glo network was also said to be free.<\/p>\n Adenuga also allegedly built a cathedral and a mission house in the compound where his mother was buried. What was even more surprising was that Adenuga allegedly exhumed his father’s corpse, who died in 1979, and buried him in the same compound as his mother.<\/p>\n Some Nigerian dignitaries that attended the burial include:<\/strong><\/p>\nRites and Cost of Burial By Hausa And Yoruba People<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7 Most Expensive And Biggest Burials in Nigeria<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Mike Adenuga’s Mother<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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2. Obi Cubana’s Mother<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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