Symbolism and Death: Class-based Ritualised Performance in the Basukuma Burial Ceremonies

Abstract

Guided by a Marxist perspective on literature, and Muleka ' s Performer-centrism, this paper highlights and discusses different manifestations or gestures that covertly suggest     that there are elements of classes in some of the burial ceremonies, which are accompanied by performances among the Basukuma ethnic group of Tanzania. It reports the findings of a study whose data were collected using interviews held with respondents selected via snowball sampling. Note-taking served as a prominent data collection tool. Documentary review supplemented interviews, especially to collect data   on   the   traditions   of the   Basukuma   as one of   the   ethnic   groups   in Tanzania   found   predominantly in the Lake Victoria Zone. The study found that the burial ceremonies of the Basukuma are class conscious as manifested by their symbolic, incantatory, and invocatory performances. Indeed, when chiefs, singers, breech-birth and twins die, their burials require special burial   ritual   performances   such as incantations, invocations   and   symbols   that     differentiate them from   other   rank and file individuals whose burial   ceremonies lack fanfares characterising   privileged individuals. Overall, these   burial   ceremonies   graced   by   symbolic gestures   among   the Basukuma also help   to   unify   the   community   since   individuals define themselves in terms of who they are and   what   to expect   from   them   and   the   community   as   a whole.  https://dx.doi.org/10.56279/ummaj.v9i2.5