
The Evolution of African Funerals in Democratic Dispensation- Some Perspectives from Kenya and South Africa
Issue: Vol.6 No.14 Article 32 pp.3831 – 3841
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561432 | Published online 30th December, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Keywords: African Funerals, Modernity, Mourning rituals, Kenyans, South Africans.
Baloyi, Lesiba, and Molebogeng Makobe-Rabothata. “The African Conception of Death: A Cultural Implication,” 2014.
Baloyi, Magezi E. “Distance No Impediment for Funerals: Death as a Uniting Ritual for African People A Pastoral Study.” Verbum et Ecclesia 35, no. 1 (January 14, 2014). https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v35i1.1248.
Cocks, G. “How Have Funeral Traditions Changed?,” 2020. https://www.scandbscocks.co.uk/how-have-funerals-changed/.
Ekore, R. L., and B. Lanre-Abass. “African Cultural Concept of Death and the Idea of Advance Care Directives.” Indian Palliat Care 22, no. 4 (2016): 369–72.
Eze, C. “The Traditional Burial Rites in Some African Societies. The Guardian Nigerian,” 2021.
Geest, S. Van der. “Dying Peacefully: Considering Good Death and Bad Death in Kwahu-Tafo, Ghana.” Social Science & Medicine 58, no. 5 (2004): 899–911.
Jindra, M., and J. Noret. “Funerals in Africa,” 2013. https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/JindraFunerals.
Laderman, Gary. Rest in Peace. Oxford University Press, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195183559.001.0001.
Leakey, L. S. B. The Southern Kikuyu before 1903. Vol. 2. San Francisco: Academic Press, 1977.
Lechman, A. “New and Emerging Funeral Trends: Live Streams and Themed Funerals,” 2023. https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/new-and-emerging-funeral-trends-live-streams-and-themed-funerals-e1d68874-fdbc-45bc-9588-51cf40ae3825.
MayFuneral. “Funeral Traditions in South Africa, Blog Posts Uncategorized.” MayFuneralhome, 2018. https://blog.htmayfuneralhome.com/2018/02/funeral-traditions-south-africa/.
Mbiti, John S. “Challenges Facing Religious Education and Research in Africa: The Case of Dialogue between Christianity and African Religion.” Religion and Theology 3, no. 2 (1996): 170–78. https://doi.org/10.1163/157430196X00176.
Milne, B. Memorial Service vs. Celebration of Life: Differences and Definitions, 2022.
Musili, Telesia Kathini, and Fancy Cheronoh. “The African Value of Communality in Virtual Space amidst Covid-19: The Case of WhatsApp Welfare Communities in Nomiya Church, Eastleigh.” In Law, Religion, Health and Healing in Africa, 365–78. African Sun Media, 2022. https://doi.org/10.52779/9781991201911/24.
Ndeleni, L. “Cultural and Western Funeral Traditions, A Cultural Exploration by Lunga Ndeleni,” 2016. https://www.blc.co.za/cultural-western-funeral-traditions-cultural-exploration-lunga-ndeleni/.
Ngubane, S. “Death and Burial Practices in Contemporary Zulu Culture, South Africa.,” 2019.
Niekerk, J. Van. “Ubuntu and Moral Values,” 2013. https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/755432f6-5b72-4e74-9af7-f6e1d815d1d2/content.
Obbo, S. B. “African Death Rite Of Passage, Dialogue And Inculturation.” Tangaza University, 2000.
Ouma., C. “Why Special Ritual Was Performed at Brian Chira’s Home on Friday.” Pulselive, 2024. https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/why-special-ritual-was-performed-at-brian-chiras-home-on-friday/pj17wgr.
Pieterse, HJC. “Scientific-Theoretical Research Approach to Practical Theology in South Africa: A Contemporary Overview. .” HTS Theological Studies 73, no. 4 (2017): 1–9.
Ruddock, V. “Death Rituals in Africa: Cultural Beliefs and Burial Traditions,” 2019. https://www.lovetoknow.com/life/grief-loss/death-rituals-africa.
Siswana, G.T. “Traditional African Burial Rites in Modern Age,” 2017. https://www.power987.co.za/news/traditional-african-burial-rites-in-the-modern-age/.
Snyder, Hannah. “Literature Review as a Research Methodology: An Overview and Guidelines.” Journal of Business Research 104 (2019): 333–39.
Solomon, A. “Funerals Have Changed Since the 1960s. Here’s How,” 2023. https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/funerals/funeral-have-changed-since-1960s-heres-how.htm.
Ulwazi Programme. “A Zulu Burial.” https://www.ulwaziprogramme.org/a-zulu-burial/ , 2014.
Zeeman, K. “After Tears: Are We Going Too Far with Parties at Funerals?” Times live, 2019. https://www.timeslive.co.za/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2019-11-06-after-tears-are-we-going-too-far-with-parties-at-funerals/.
Baloyi Magezi Elijah, is a C2 NRF rated Full professor (UNISA) in Practical Theology and holds PhD in Practical Theology from University of Pretoria. A former Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology and a former chair of the Board of Research Institute of Theology and Religion, Unisa. He is presently a Research Professor for Research Institute of Theology and Religion, Unisa. He is first black theological academic to be awarded Center of Theological Inquiry membership under the topic “Thriving in Diverse Contexts” in Princeton, USA. His current project with CONTRALESA is “Critical reflection on the erosion of post-colonial African Funeral Traditions.” He initiated Erosion Research Team across some African countries that is working on this project.
Telesia Kathini Musili is a distinguished lecturer in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and a research fellow at the University of South Africa. With a profound commitment to exploring the nuanced intersections of religion—both physical and virtual—ethics, media, and ecology, her scholarly work critically addresses contemporary issues impacting women and society. Telesia’s research interests extend to the ethics of artificial intelligence in academia and the ethical dimensions of religious violence. She examines how these fields intersect to shape ethical social dynamics, particularly within African societies. Through her academic endeavors, Telesia aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the moral and societal implications of religious discourses and media representations, advocating for greater inclusivity and sustainability. Her work seeks to illuminate the complexities of ethical decision-making in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, emphasizing the need for responsible engagement with issues relating to gender disparities and technology in academic and religious contexts.
Baloyi, Elijah, and Telesia, Musili.“The Evolution of African Funerals in Democratic Dispensation- Some Perspectives from Kenya and South Africa.” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 14 (2025): 3831 – 3841 , https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.202561432.
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).









