By Elimu Assistant Team 
Explain the significance of rituals performed after the death of a person in traditional African communities. (7 marks)
- Wailing/crying is a sign of sorrow/announcing death.
- Making sacrifices to appease the ancestors/deceased.
- Prayers are made to ask the ancestors to accept the dead in the world of spirits.
- Sharing of members of the bereaved family signifies new life in the community.
- Singing and dancing depict anger towards death/in praise of the dead.
- Washing/oiling of the body before burial shows respect to the departed.
- Burying of the dead in the ancestral land shows that one is still a member of the community.
- Burying the dead with personal belongings symbolizes life after death.
- Driving cattle/livestock shows chasing away evil spirits which caused death.
- Feasting/drinking is meant to bid farewell to the dead.
- The breaking of pots/destruction of property symbolizes the disorder brought by death.
- Sharing of the deceased’s property among relatives as a sign of solidarity.
- Lighting of fire signifies chasing away evil spirits/warning spirits of the deceased.
- The pouring of libation shows the continuity of life.
