“Covid-19 is uncompromisingly forcing us to return to basics and remember what worked for us. There is no choice but to conduct the ritual of ukufiha [ukuqhusheka] with only a few family elders burying our loved ones within a day, or three at the maximum,” Mndende said.
Loyiso Nqevu, another indigenous religious leader, called the Covid-19 situation an “equivalent to war”.
“Look at the number of casualties. This is scary, and more will die if we continue to refuse things that will reduce the spread of the virus and save lives. Ukuqhusheka is part of the solution. People can do the funeral service or memorials later. This gives dignity to the departed,” he said.
Professor Reuben Rashe, the department head at Fort Hare University's Centre for Theology and Religion, said funerals were liturgical by nature and were time-consuming.
“African funerals are always accompanied by rituals, whether they are religious rituals or cultural rituals. At times like this, a funeral is not the best option. It [ukuqhusheka] is the best option because it can be controlled by the family who can choose a selected number of people to participate. A minister of a religion can do the committal in less than five minutes and no sermon is required in ukuqhusheka,” said Rashe.
The Anglican Church's Mthatha diocese head, Bishop Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, agreed that ukuqhusheka was by far the best option.
“Under these circumstances, I will personally support this idea of ukuqhusheka. It is better and safer. People can always do a memorial later,” said Ndwandwe.
Eastern Cape Provincial Council president reverend Lulama Ntshingwa said he had written to church leaders in the province to discuss some issues relating to African funeral services, even post-Covid-19.
''Our funerals in African communities show obsession with social gatherings and have eroded the dignity of paying last respects to the departed. The funerals have become unnecessarily expensive,” he said.
Eastern Cape religious leaders moot small private burials as the way forward to combat Covid-19
Image: BAFANA MAHLANGU
Christian and African indigenous religious leaders have come out in favour of restoring the age-old ritual of ukuqusheka — small private burials — to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
They believe these funerals will not only treat the departed with dignity but also counter the effects of mass gatherings which have proven costly in terms of Covid-19 infections in the Eastern Cape.
In ukuqhuseka, there is no night vigil or funeral service, no tributes or eulogies and no viewing of the body. It is purely a burial.
African indigenous religion leader Dr Nokuzola Mndende said there was “no longer a choice” but to return to the custom.
“Covid-19 is uncompromisingly forcing us to return to basics and remember what worked for us. There is no choice but to conduct the ritual of ukufiha [ukuqhusheka] with only a few family elders burying our loved ones within a day, or three at the maximum,” Mndende said.
Loyiso Nqevu, another indigenous religious leader, called the Covid-19 situation an “equivalent to war”.
“Look at the number of casualties. This is scary, and more will die if we continue to refuse things that will reduce the spread of the virus and save lives. Ukuqhusheka is part of the solution. People can do the funeral service or memorials later. This gives dignity to the departed,” he said.
Professor Reuben Rashe, the department head at Fort Hare University's Centre for Theology and Religion, said funerals were liturgical by nature and were time-consuming.
“African funerals are always accompanied by rituals, whether they are religious rituals or cultural rituals. At times like this, a funeral is not the best option. It [ukuqhusheka] is the best option because it can be controlled by the family who can choose a selected number of people to participate. A minister of a religion can do the committal in less than five minutes and no sermon is required in ukuqhusheka,” said Rashe.
The Anglican Church's Mthatha diocese head, Bishop Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, agreed that ukuqhusheka was by far the best option.
“Under these circumstances, I will personally support this idea of ukuqhusheka. It is better and safer. People can always do a memorial later,” said Ndwandwe.
Eastern Cape Provincial Council president reverend Lulama Ntshingwa said he had written to church leaders in the province to discuss some issues relating to African funeral services, even post-Covid-19.
''Our funerals in African communities show obsession with social gatherings and have eroded the dignity of paying last respects to the departed. The funerals have become unnecessarily expensive,” he said.
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