CULTURAL DEVIATIONS AND THE RISE OF COMMERCIALIZED BURIALS AMONG YOUTH IN ABIA STATE

CULTURAL DEVIATIONS AND THE RISE OF COMMERCIALIZED BURIALS AMONG YOUTH IN ABIA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

In Abia State, a notable shift has emerged in which traditional burial rites—once entirely community-funded and orchestrated by elders—are increasingly being commercialized by younger participants. Young people now advertise paid services such as professional wailers, event coordinators, sound-system operators, and choreographed mourners (Mshweshwe, 2020). This trend reflects broader socioeconomic pressures: with youth unemployment rates high, funeral ceremonies have become fertile ground for entrepreneurial ventures. Yet, these commercialized practices represent a departure from communal reciprocity toward market-driven engagements, raising questions about their cultural legitimacy (Galderisi, Heinz, Kastrup, Beezhold, & Sartorius, 2015).

From a sociocultural lens, rituals are meant to affirm shared values and mutual support; when replaced by transactional relationships, the symbolic cohesion of mourning can be undermined (Gruebner et al., 2017). Psychological theories further suggest that monetizing grief may alter emotional experiences—participants may feel compelled to “perform” sorrow for pay, leading to emotional dissonance and possible retraumatization (Arango et al., 2018). Despite these concerns, there is scant empirical research on how Abia’s youth-led commercial burials deviate from tradition and affect both cultural continuity and individual well-being.

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While commercialized funeral services offer economic opportunities for Abia’s youth, they also challenge longstanding cultural norms of collective mourning and may generate emotional strain for both service providers and bereaved families. The lack of systematic investigation into these dynamics leaves community leaders without guidance on balancing entrepreneurial innovation with the preservation of cultural integrity and mental-health safeguards.

 

1.3 Objectives of the Study

To document the scope and types of commercialized burial services offered by youth in Abia State.

To assess how these market-based practices influence traditional communal values and participants’ emotional experiences.

To propose culturally grounded frameworks that integrate youth entrepreneurship with respectful, sustainable burial customs.

 

1.4 Research Questions

What commercial services do young people provide in Abia State burial ceremonies, and how are they structured?

How do these transactional practices impact cultural perceptions of mourning and communal solidarity?

What guidelines can ensure that youth-driven funeral enterprises support, rather than subvert, traditional burial values?

 

1.5 Significance of the Study

Community Elders & Cultural Custodians: Insights will inform policies that regulate youth-led funeral businesses to safeguard cultural heritage.

Youth Entrepreneurs: Understanding community attitudes will help them design services that respect ritual norms while remaining economically viable.

Mental-Health Practitioners & NGOs: Findings on emotional dissonance and stress can guide supportive interventions for both service providers and bereaved clients.

 

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

Scope: Focuses on youths aged 18–35 in urban and peri-urban areas of Abia State who have provided paid burial services in the past two years.

Limitations:

Selection Bias: Youths who commercialize funerals may differ in outlook from those who do not, affecting representativeness.

Rapid Change: Commercialization trends may evolve quickly, potentially outpacing study findings.

 

1.7 Definition of Terms

Commercialized Burial: Funeral practices wherein services traditionally offered gratis by kin are instead sold for profit.

Emotional Dissonance: Psychological discomfort from expressing emotions perceived as inauthentic due to external incentives.

Communal Reciprocity: Cultural principle of mutual aid and shared responsibility during communal ceremonies.

Youth Entrepreneurship: The creation of economic ventures by young people, here applied to funeral-related services.

Cultural Integrity: The preservation of core values, beliefs, and practices within a community’s traditions.

 

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.

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.

Mshweshwe, L. (2020). Understanding domestic violence: masculinity, culture, traditions. Heliyon, 6(10).

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.