LIFESTYLE: The Ilaje People and Their Flamboyant Funeral

The Ilaje people are one of the many dialects of the Yoruba race in Nigeria. The people speak Ilaje dialect of Yoruba and occupy Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.  They can also be found in Ajegunle and Majidun Lagos and in other riverine area across the country including Makoko. This is because their main occupation is fishing.
 

The Ilajes hold burial ceremony in high esteem that it seems to be more important than marriage, naming ceremony, or any other good in life. Generally, Yoruba doesn’t celebrate the death of youth, children, or any young person especially one that was survived by parents because they believe that it is a very sad situation. Therefore, the Ilajes only perform burial rite for an aged man or woman survived by at least a grown child.

This rite begins from the day the deceased gave up the ghost till the day he or she is buried. It consist of cleaning the dead and reserving it in the mortuary, Ere Iseyinde (farewell play), having series of family meetings, and the last stage which include church service, a mega party and finally, burial. Our focus here is actually on the Ere Iseyinde.

The importance of Ere Iseyinde is that it is the farewell play used in informing the public of the unexpected news and as a performance to celebrate the decease to the underworld. It consists of singing, drumming and dancing to traditional songs joyously by the participants. The songs are traditional and anyone among the congregation can lead at any point that suit him and the rest of the sympathizers.

TIME: Ere Iseyinde is usually performed in the evening till anytime in the night and possibly till dawn for seven consecutive days from the day of demise.

PARTICIPANTS: Family members, friends, neighbors, and wishers; both men and women. Children are involved as spectators.

INSTRUMENTS: The main traditional instrument is a pair of foot-length bamboo stick for each person. These bamboos are hit against themselves melodiously to the tune of songs. It is typically accompanied with supporting instruments that include Traditional Drum, Sekere (Shaker) and Hands to clap; together creating a percussive sound that gladdens and delights the listeners.

In conclusion, winning and dinning is significant. Traditional foods like Pupuru and Orugbo Soup’ will take centre stage and dominates the period. Also, various drinks headed by palm wine are available. Non-alcoholic drinks are also served but their intake cannot be compare to the amount of Ogogoro, gin and beers’. Trust the Ilajes, they take much alcohol but often not to stupor because it has become part of them.  

Ere Iseyinde Video: https://youtu.be/CwQOF47WC8g

Famine Declared in South Sudan's Unity State

A famine has been declared in parts of South Sudan, the first to be announced in any part of the world in six years.

The government and the United Nations report that some 100,000 people are facing starvation, with a million more on the brink of famine.

A combination of civil war and an economic collapse have been blamed.

There have been warnings of famine in Yemen, Somalia and north-eastern Nigeria, but South Sudan is the first to declare one.

The famine is currently affecting parts of the Unity state in South Sudan, but humanitarian groups have warned that the crisis could spread if urgent help is not received.
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Aid agencies, including the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the children's fund Unicef, said that 4.9 million people - more than 40% of South Sudan's population are in urgent need of food.

When is a famine declared?

Food shortages can lead to large numbers of people lacking nutrition, but only rarely do they amount to famine, according to UN humanitarian criteria.

Long periods of drought and other problems reducing the supply of food do not necessarily result in a famine.

A famine is declared only when certain measures of mortality, malnutrition and hunger are met. They are:

1.  At least 20% of households in an area face extreme food shortages with a limited ability to cope
2.  Acute malnutrition rates exceed 30%
3.  The death rate exceeds two persons per day per 10,000 persons

The declaration of a famine carries no binding obligations on the UN or member states, but serves to focus global attention on the problem.

Source: UN

What is a famine?

The wooden bridge between death and safety

The report on Monday said that an increase in humanitarian assistance was needed in order to prevent the famine from spreading to other vulnerable areas.

"If sustained and adequate assistance is delivered urgently, the hunger situation can be improved in the coming months and further suffering mitigated," the report said.

Head of the WFP in South Sudan, Joyce Luma, said that the famine was "man-made" after three years of conflict across the country stifled crop production and hit farmers and rural livelihoods.

The impact of the conflict, combined with high food prices, economic disruption and low agricultural production has resulted in the area becoming "food insecure", the report added.

South Sudan also experienced a famine in 1998, during the war for independence from Sudan.