Death Related Rites Unfolded: The Case of the Imilangu of Kalabo and Sikongo Districts of Western Zambia

Many studies about Barotseland, Imilangu inclusive, in Kalabo and Sikongo Districts of Western Province, Zambia, have been done by different scholars. Prominent among these scholars are Strike, Chondoka, Mainga, Sumbwa, Simakando and others. Of these scholars, no one has systematically elaborated death related rites of the Imilangu. This article thus endevours to fill the vaccum in academic literature on death related rites among the Imilangu in Kalabo and Sikongo Districts of Western Province, Zambia. The study opens with a discussion of the beliefs of the Imilangu about the causes of death. It has been discussed that witchcraft, disgruntled ancestral spirits/evil spirits, disobeying taboos and nature are believed to be the four causes of death in the area. Of the four causes, witchcraft was found to be more pronounced than the other three. The other crucial theme of discussion deals with funeral and burial rites. A detailed discussion has been given to show what happened immediately a person died. Body preparation just after someone died and all the activites that took place before and after burial have explicitly been outlined. Finally, the study has been concluded with a close analysis of the changes that have taken place in funeral and burial processes. In here, it has been observed that the Imilangu have done away with most of the funeral and burial rites that once existed in the area.