Lamont, Mark. 2011. Decomposing pollution? Corpses, burials, and affliction among the Meru of central Kenya. In: Michael Jindra and Joel Noret, eds. Funerals in Africa: Explorations of a Social Phenomenon. Oxford and New York: Berghahn Books, pp. 88-108. ISBN 978-0-85745-205-4 [Book Section]

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Abstract or Description

Across Africa, funerals and events remembering the dead have become larger and even more numerous over the years. Whereas in the West death is normally a private and family affair, in Africa funerals are often the central life cycle event, unparalleled in cost and importance, for which families harness vast amounts of resources to host lavish events for multitudes of people with ramifications well beyond the event. Though officials may try to regulate them, the popularity of these events often makes such efforts fruitless, and the elites themselves spend tremendously on funerals. This volume brings together scholars who have conducted research on funerary events across sub-Saharan Africa. The contributions offer an in-depth understanding of the broad changes and underlying causes in African societies over the years, such as changes in religious beliefs, social structure, urbanization, and technological changes and health.

Item Type:	Book Section
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Anthropology Research Office > REF2014
Dates:	Date Event 2011 Published
Funders:	Funding body Funder ID Grant Number AHRC UNSPECIFIED
Item ID:	5951
Date Deposited:	23 Nov 2011 09:43
Last Modified:	19 Apr 2016 16:32
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/5951

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• Decomposing pollution? Corpses, burials, and affliction among the Meru of central Kenya. (deposited UNSPECIFIED)
  • Decomposing pollution? Corpses, burials, and affliction among the Meru of central Kenya. (deposited 23 Nov 2011 09:43) [Currently Displayed]

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