Legendary musician Onyeka Onwenu has disclosed how she would like to be buried while condemning the recent burial of Obi Cubana’s mother in Oba, Anambra state.
Following the funeral, Nigerians dubbed the lavish burial ceremony held for Obi Cubana’s mother as the ‘burial of the year’ because of the excessive display of wealth that stunned many.
Onyeka, in her reaction, stated that she was very uncomfortable with the lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship and lack for most others.
She also revealed that when she passes away, she would like to be buried quickly, quietly and privately. Onyeka added that they should celebrate her with prayers, lunch or dinner and mourn moderately.
In her opinion piece, she wrote in part;
“I told a friend just days before the most outrageous burial of Innyom Ezinne Uche Iyiegbu in Oba, Anambra State in July that I had given my family instructions on how to bury me when my time comes. Do it quickly, quietly and privately.”
“Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh. Mourn, yes, but not excessively. Make merriment and then go about your business. If my friends want to celebrate me, they should do so while I am alive, so that I can enjoy it with them, not when I am gone and have no idea about this. That is me, Onyeka Onwenu.”
“My mother, on the other hand, wanted a different burial, and I promised to give her want she wanted. On her hospital bed, just three days before she passed away, I reinforced that promise – it was important to her, and she died knowing that I would keep my word.”
“Hope Onwenu’s burial was nothing like what took place in Oba recently, but it was elaborate and pretty expensive. Still, I had the satisfaction that I kept my promise.”
“The point I make here is that there are different strokes for different folks, even within a family. I do not condemn anyone for how they mourn, with their hard-earned money, but I am very uncomfortable with lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship and lack for most others.”
Discussion about this post