TRADITIONAL RITES OR OPPORTUNISM? EXAMINING FINANCIAL DEMANDS BY YOUNG PEOPLE IN CROSS RIVER STATE FUNERALS

TRADITIONAL RITES OR OPPORTUNISM? EXAMINING FINANCIAL DEMANDS BY YOUNG PEOPLE IN CROSS RIVER STATE FUNERALS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Cross River State funerals, like many in southeastern Nigeria, are marked by intricate traditional rites—libations, masquerades, and ceremonial feasts—where community members display solidarity and respect. Recently, however, there has been a surge in youth-initiated financial demands: payments for performing mournful songs, organizing dance troupes, or facilitating guest accommodations (Walker-Descartes et al., 2021). While some elders view these demands as modernization of cultural patronage, others decry them as opportunistic behaviors that commodify grief and undermine communal values (Donovan & Hester, 2015).

Sociological theories of ritual economy suggest that monetization of cultural practices can both democratize access—by providing income streams to marginalized youth—and risk eroding the moral ethos of shared sacrifice (Gruebner et al., 2017). In Cross River communities, young people often justify their fees as compensation for time, talent, and transport, yet families under economic strain may perceive such demands as exploitative or selfish (Chapman & Monk, 2015).

Psychologically, transactional interactions during mourning can alter bereavement experiences. When expressions of empathy and solidarity become conditional on payment, mourners may feel alienated, and youth may experience guilt or cognitive dissonance between cultural participation and profit motives (Arango et al., 2018). Despite anecdotal accounts of tension and conflict arising from these financial exchanges, no systematic research has explored their prevalence or psychosocial impact in Cross River State. This study therefore interrogates whether youth-imposed financial demands represent legitimate modernization of rites or exploitative opportunism, and how families and performers navigate these complex dynamics.

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The recent emergence of monetary demands by youths in Cross River State funerals has sparked debate over cultural integrity and economic fairness. Families report distress when unable to meet these fees, and young performers express frustration at being labeled opportunists. Yet, empirical data on the scope, justification, and emotional consequences of these financial exchanges are absent. This lacuna hampers informed dialogue among stakeholders seeking to balance tradition, youth livelihood, and communal solidarity.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

To document the types and frequency of financial demands made by young people in Cross River State funerals.

To explore perceptions of these demands among youth performers and bereaved families, focusing on motivations and received benefits.

To propose culturally grounded frameworks that reconcile youth economic interests with communal mourning ethics.

 

1.4 Research Questions

What are the common forms and amounts of financial demands by youths in Cross River funeral rituals?

How do funeral organizers and families perceive the legitimacy and fairness of these demands?

What norms or guidelines can be developed to ensure that youth earning opportunities align with cultural values of solidarity?

 

1.5 Significance of the Study

Families & Community Elders: Understanding these dynamics will help families negotiate fair arrangements and guide elders in setting community expectations.

Youth & Cultural Practitioners: Insights will inform youth about community perceptions and encourage ethical engagement.

Policy Makers & NGOs: Evidence may inform local regulations or support programs that formalize youth roles in funerals while protecting cultural cohesion.

 

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

Scope: Involves youth aged 18–35 and bereaved families in urban and rural Cross River communities who have participated in at least one funeral with youth financial demands in the past two years.

Limitations:

Perception Bias: Differing definitions of “fairness” may vary widely across respondents.

Cultural Variation: Practices might differ between Efik, Ejagham, and other ethnic groups, limiting broad generalizations.

 

1.7 Definition of Terms

Funeral Commodification: The process by which mourning rituals become subject to market transactions.

Youth Opportunism: Actions by young people perceived as exploiting cultural events for personal gain.

Cognitive Dissonance: Psychological stress arising from holding conflicting beliefs—in this case, between cultural participation and profit motives.

Ritual Modernization: Adaptation of traditional rites in response to contemporary socioeconomic conditions.

Communal Solidarity: The collective ethos of mutual support and shared responsibility during mourning.

 

List of References

Arango, C., Díaz-Caneja, C. M., McGorry, P. D., Rapoport, J., Sommer, I. E., Vorstman, J. A., … Carpenter, W. (2018). Preventive strategies for mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(7), 591–604.

 

Chapman, A., & Monk, C. (2015). Domestic violence awareness. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(10), 944–945.

Donovan, C., & Hester, M. (2015). Domestic violence and sexuality: what’s love got to do with it? Policy Press.

Galderisi, S., Heinz, A., Kastrup, M., Beezhold, J., & Sartorius, N. (2015). Toward a new definition of mental health. World Psychiatry, 14(2), 231–233.

Gruebner, O., Rapp, M. A., Adli, M., Kluge, U., Galea, S., & Heinz, A. (2017). Cities and mental health. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 114(8), 121–127.