The Azande Kingdom, churches and the Western Equatoria State Government have backed a return to traditional funeral practices, calling for greater respect and dignity during mourning and burial ceremonies.
The agreement was reached in Yambio on Monday during a meeting chaired by His Majesty Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue, King of the Azande Kingdom, and attended by Western Equatoria State Governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa, church leaders, community representatives and other stakeholders.
The meeting brought together senior religious leaders, including Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiboro Kusalla of St Mary Catholic Church and Bishop Samuel Enosa Peni of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.
The stakeholders agreed to discourage the use of DJs, loud sound systems, dancing and other forms of entertainment during funeral ceremonies, particularly before the burial of the deceased.
Governor Badagbu said the initiative was aimed at protecting cultural values and restoring dignity to traditional mourning practices.
He said the influence of modern technology and globalisation had changed the way some communities conduct funerals, with loud music, DJs and dancing increasingly becoming part of ceremonies even while the body of the deceased is still present.
“We must accord a very respectful, befitting burial to our people who have passed on to another world,” Governor Badagbu said.
The Azande Kingdom said the move would be supported by the review and ratification of customary laws governing mourning and burial practices.
Christin Ngbanazande, Acting Prime Minister of the Azande Kingdom, said strengthening customary law would help restore traditional Zande values and provide clearer guidance on how communities should conduct funeral ceremonies.
She said the Kingdom would work to sensitise communities about the agreed regulations and encouraged residents to respect the customary practices.
Church leaders also supported the initiative, which seeks to bring greater harmony between traditional customs and the conduct of religious and community funerals.
The stakeholders said the move was not intended to prevent communities from mourning their loved ones, but to ensure that funeral ceremonies remain respectful and consistent with cultural values.
They said preserving traditional funeral practices would help protect Zande cultural identity while ensuring that deceased people are accorded dignified and respectful burials.
