Busia: Man Climbs into Grave, Repositions Body to Sitting Posture in Rare Ritual

• A viral video captured a rare burial ritual in Busia County involving a man climbing into a grave to reposition the deceased
• After the coffin was lowered, the man entered the grave and repositioned the body into a sitting posture, a cultural requirement in the community
• The process took about five minutes, with ropes used to stabilise the casket and nails hammered in once the position was set
• The video circulated widely on TikTok, with many wondering about the significance of having the deceased in a sitting position

A viral video has captured the moment when a Busia man descended into the grave after a coffin was lowered and repositioned the deceased's body.

The puzzling video showed the mourners surrounding the grave after the coffin was lowered into the grave, and they waited patiently as the body was being repositioned.

In the clip, the man meticulously started by first repositioning the deceased man's body to a sitting posture, and once he was done, he started adjusting the coffin.

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As he was in the process of that rare ritual, two more men climbed into the grave to help him complete his task, which stretched to about five minutes.

The two men helped push the casket to the edge of the grave while the part covering the torso was made to lean on the side of the grave.

Looking over them was the group of mourners who patiently waited for this crucial part of the burial to be done, as is part of the tribe's culture.

The mourners also helped those inside the grave in pushing the casket using a rope until it was all set.

Once the coffin was in a sitting position, they used nails and a hammer to secure it, before the burial proceeded and the grave was filled with soil.

Abatura's rare burial ritual

The video ignited a myriad of reactions from Kenyans, and while many seemed spooked by the ritual, others seemed to understand that it was part and parcel of the Abatura and Balunda people's culture.

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Details show that in the Luhya subtribes of Abatura and Balunda, a deceased male is buried while sitting, while women lie by the side. They have special coffins made by locals to allow for this repositioning of the body.

The coffins are made in such a way that the deceased person can be adjusted to either sit or lie by their side.

Other Luhya subtribes are also believed to have such unique burial practices.

Kenyans react to Busia burial

The video ignited a myriad of reactions among Kenyans. While some seemed to understand the significance of the ritual, others said the ritual seemed unnecessary.

Here are some of the comments:

@Lovely said:

"This is also how my kin was buried."

@Wilikister:

"This is my clan, and I will also be buried this way."

Liv Achieng said:

"This is my mother's clan, the Abashibe from the Abatura clan."

Sherine Aisha 254 said:

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"Nilidhani nimejionea mengi duniani kumbe bado."

Man collapses and dies in burial

In other news, a burial in Busia also left many shocked after a man who was beating the drum just before the coffin was lowered collapsed and fell into the grave.

The man was rushed to the hospital after he became unconscious and was pronounced dead upon arrival in the hospital.

Luhya elders explained why such an incident occurs according to their culture.

Source: TUKO.co.ke