washingtonpost.com: African Lives

Transcript:

Interviewer: Welcome back to the Africa Daily, Under 3 Podcast! It’s Friday, so today we’ll be conducting our weekly interview! Today’s special guest is Kofi Mensah, from Ghana. Welcome, Kofi.
Kofi: Hello, thank you for having me.
I: We understand that you've recently lost your father. We are very sorry for your loss.
K: Thank you. It has been a very rough time for my family, but we manage.
I: For today's episode, we wanted to get some insight on how a funeral is managed in Ghana.
K: I’m happy to share.
I: First of all, do you know what funerals are like in the US?
K: I know that funerals in America are just as sacred as ours. They are just practiced in a different manner.
I: What is different about funerals in Africa?
K: Funerals in Africa are a lot more intimate. They rely on more friends and family to participate.
I: Can you elaborate? What kinds of customs and beliefs generally go into an African funeral?
K: The honors usually go to the eldest mothers and aunts. They are tasked with cleaning the body and ensuring it is in it’s best state for the ancestors.
I: If you don’t mind, would you share some of the customs you participated in at your father’s funeral?
K: I was involved in his bathing, and was the one who received the offerings of other families.
I: Wow, how long did it last?
K: The procession took about a week.
I: That’s a lot longer than how we do it in the US. How much did it cost?
K: The cost came out to 300 dollars. 
I: Was there any family drama related to the funeral planning?
K: Yes. As you can imagine, it is a very emotionally draining time.
I: Is there anything we do during American funerals that you prefer over the African way?
K: I believe the way they do things is for the best, and the way we do things is also for the best. 
I: Anything else you'd like to share with us? Any shout outs you'd like to give while you're on the podcast?
K: I would like to thank my family and friends back home for supporting us during this time. 
I: Thank you for teaching us about funerals in Africa today! Cultural differences are always interesting to learn about.
K: It was a pleasure. Thank you for having me on.
I: Well everyone, that was today’s Africa Daily Under 3 Podcast! See you tomorrow for a quick summary on the spread of the Sahara Desert!