The Griot

Matters surrounding death tend to be treated with solemnity in most cultures. This is partly because death is viewed as a prerequisite for the journey to the world beyond, to the dwelling place of our ancestors or to the land of the spirits. So, how we bid farewell to the dead is conditioned by what we think happens to the person after death. The rituals performed and rites of transition also involve food and some food items are even indispensable. Boiled maize and beans/groundnuts is used in the North West region of Cameroon in the process of paying the last respect to the dead. Basically, the maize is prepared for the same reason, that is, to assist in the transcendence of the dead. However, it should be noted that there are some slight differences in its execution from ethnic group to ethnic group. The emphasis on each point of the execution depends on the ethnic group in question. There are rules that have to be respected if the aimed results have to be achieved, thus, the aimed...