When there's a cock on your coffin

Like most of evenings recently, last Friday 10 May 2013 evening was no exception. After a day of cooklessness, I had no choice but to go fast food hunting: fried ripe plantains and beans or some other strange culinary pairing. As  I was about to leave with my booty, I  heard loud bike honking in the distance, wondered what was amiss and looked up to see a funeral convoy, nothing strange about that, right? But right along came a 35 seater bus carrying part of the mourning party; there was a coffin on top, normal, flanked by some dudes, normal and behold a cock on the coffin! A vintage thorough bred ‘contri fowl’ as it is affectionately labelled in these parts. Yes, a cock seated with regal purposefulness on the coffin, the wind blowing in its face, one could imagine, as the bus headed to its destination.

Fridays in Buea is usually set aside for corpse removal from the regional hospital. So Gbeans have been accustomed to the pale solemn and dark colours of death. But if this was all then we would not be here, would we? In addition and sometimes instead of the pale colours of death, Buea residents are now being treated to honk – blaring convoys, supposed - mourners wailing mockingly from behind fast - ridden bikes and ,yes, people as well as cocks sitting on top of coffins with their occupants already inside. This new imaginary is now part of life in this part of the world. This situation implicitly poses the question of what has become of the solemnity, silence and respect around all things death. Is there an ongoing desolemnisation of everything death? Sure public opinion would want us to celebrate the life of someone who leaves this world at the ripe old age of 100 but does this mean we should transform it into a toy with which we play and jest? Just asking. Daily and constantly we are witnesses to the carefreeness with which people now consider all things death related. Take wake keepings for example. There have now become fertile grounds for igniting new romances and consummating some. It is not uncommon to stumble on duos frolicking in the shadows while a corpse is lying in state nearby. There are also the perfect hunting ground for those looking for a free meal and drink. Sure death is part of life so why all the fuss? But then would you like people tapdancing on your coffin or grave just because your are dead?