A family in Tombo Mbatie, Benue State, rejected a coffin brought by their son-in-law for the burial of their mother-in-law. This was revealed by a Facebook user, Bem Raphael Aondongu, who posted about the incident on his page. According to him, the family rejected the casket because it was not beautiful enough and was too poor to be used for the burial of a member of their family.
In the Tiv tradition, the first female child who is married is responsible for providing a casket for the burial of any deceased parent. This responsibility is usually shared with her husband, who is the son-in-law of the deceased. In this case, the son-in-law had made efforts to bring a casket for his mother-in-law’s burial, but it was rejected by the family.
The rejected casket was shown in pictures posted by the Facebook user. It was turned upside down, indicating the family’s strong disapproval. It is unclear what the son-in-law will do next, given that the family has rejected the casket he provided.
This incident highlights the importance of cultural traditions in many parts of Nigeria, where certain customs and practices are expected to be followed during important events such as funerals. It also raises questions about the role of family dynamics and relationships in decision-making around these traditions.
