It is a funny question to ask if dead bodies talk. In some cultures, dead bodies speak through sign language. This depends on the beliefs, traditions and culture of the people. People in different parts of the world have a way of life that is native to them. Sometimes, these traditional beliefs may be weird.

These traditional beliefs are not even been affected by westernization, modernization, civilization and education. Due to colonization, most people do not practice the African traditional religion and have abandoned some traditional and cultural beliefs and practices, especially, the negative ones.

Death and funeral is a natural course that takes place in life, with a lot of myths and beliefs attached to them. Among the people of Grand Bonny some persons believe that even after death, the deceased still communicate with the living and can even decide where to be buried on the day of the funeral.

A lady was to be buried in Grand Bonny. On the day of the funeral, after all the funeral rites, the grave was dug and ready for interment. It was time for the pallbearers to carry the casket to the graveside. As the casket was lifted and placed on the shoulders of the pallbearers, there was a commotion as the pallbearers carrying the casket made a turnaround and headed straight to the deceased maiden home.

This caused confusion and commotion as the sympathizers did not understand what was happening. Some stayed behind while others followed the casket and pallbearers to the deceased’s maiden village. On arrival at the maiden village of the deceased, a grave was dug and the casket lowered and buried.

Insinuations and beliefs were surrounding the incident. Some people believed that the spirit of the deceased controlled the pallbearers to where she wanted to be buried. The incident also caused division, disunity and misunderstanding in the family of the deceased as they were not all in agreement with what happened. It also resulted in sibling rivalry as some of the offspring of the deceased were not on talking terms for more than fifteen years due to this incident.

One begins to wonder if traditional beliefs and myths are meant to cause, siblings’ rivalry, family disunion and conflict. It is time for different beliefs and myths to be reviewed. Sometimes it is believed that if the pallbearers move toward a particular person, the person used diabolical means to kill the deceased.

All these will cause enmity, disunity, quarrel and conflict. The love once present in families immediately transforms into hatred and the family disintegrates into fragments that are difficult to come back all because of one belief system. It will cause strife, siblings will no longer love themselves leading to siblings’ rivalry all because of one traditional belief.

A grave that has been dug is no longer used because it is believed that the deceased has told all those that came for a funeral through sign language where she will be buried. The shame and embarrassment such beliefs cause to the visitors and well-wishers who have come to mourn and sympathize with those the deceased left behind. I am still asking the question ‘do dead bodies talk in Grand Bonny’.