Pastoral Approach To The Conduct And Burial Rites of Christian Traditional Rulers is a six-chapter book that interrogates some aspects of Gbagyi culture and tradition, especially the burial rites of ‘Christian’ traditional rulers by Dr. Bulus J. Dakuru.
By Alex Byanyiko
Chapter one starts off with a rhetorical question – Why a Book on Conduct and Burial Rites of Christian Traditional Rulers. This chapter lays the background of the book and gives reasons why the book is important in this material time of Christianity and diminishing African culture and traditions, most of which have been or are being replaced by Biblical precepts and, or principles.
Chapter two brings up some of the teachings of the Bible about death and burial starting with the book of Genesis 23: 3-4 where father Abraham insisted on paying for the place where he would bury his dead wife, Sarah. Further down, the author also gave another example of the way the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was buried in a simple way without unnecessary extravagance anchored on John 20: 5,7. There are also a few more scriptures the author cited which I consider beyond the scope of my piece here.
In chapter three, we are introduced to ‘The gospel and Gbagyi Culture.’ Here the author starts off beautifully giving us a brief history of Gbagyi people. He interrogates some of the earlier accounts of the origin and migratory patterns of the Gbagyi people which, obviously, cannot stand some basic scientific analysis. And the author’s argument is quite close to that of Mr. Bitrus Narai, one of the resource persons we interviewed for the documentary we have been working on. As a pastor, he traced the origin of the Gbagyi people following the Biblical account of the human history: “…Ham, according to the Table of Nations in the book of Genesis, was a son of Noah and the father of Cush, Mizraim, Phut and Canaan. Ham’s descendants are interpreted by Flavious Josephus and others as having populated Africa and adjoining parts of Asia. Born: 2204BC, his children were: Nimrod, Heth, Ark, Sin, Amor, Havilah, Sabtecah, his Parents: Noah, Emzara Siblings: Shem, Japheth. If we were descendants of Ham, origin can never be traced back to Saudi because they were children of Shem…”
Who remembers the story about Bayajida or whatever his name is and the tale of Banza Bokoi?
I can’t believe that our elites carried on with these pieces of history without asking deep questions. This is a story that has to be proven beyond every reasonable doubt. It is a basket that doesn’t hold water for me! And I challenge every historian worth his onions to prove that this account is not false. They have told us many lies about our history!
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This chapter also leads to one of my favourites parts of the book ‘Gbagyi Chieftancy Titles and Their Roles’. Here the author gives a list of about 57 traditional titles in Gbagyi chiefdoms (some of which most of us don’t even know they exist) and the roles that such title holders are supposed to be performing.
The most impressive part of it is that the author also gives us the Gbagyi names of each of these titles.
If you’re like me, you’d agree that one of the most disservices that we do to ourselves as a people is carrying on with such titles as Sarki, Magaji, Madaki, Danmasani, Jigo and what have you. While this doesn’t change their functions, there is absolute need for us to preserve our traditional institutions and one way of doing that is to maintain such titles in our own language. For instance, I was blown away to learn that Wambai title is Buznagna (a title holder who is adequately informed and an investigator of the helm of affairs in the palace, also keeps the Esu abreast of things and shades light on issues while the council is in session)! Meanwhile I used to think that Wambai was even a Gbagyi word! Another one is Shamaki which is Dugwe Yako (The chief protocol officer in the palace, one of the members of the electoral college council).
This is incredibly important because we are dealing in the world where certain people always want to subjugate others and want everyone to be their subjects, except if they don’t have a chance at all!
Names are a critical thing because they also define our perspectives, they go down to the core of our beliefs and they can give hints to historical relics and or references to the way things were. Names also have spiritual undertones. If you don’t believe this, name your child Lucifer!
Well, in this chapter, Dr. Bulus J. Dakaru has done a phenomenal job of his book and I think every sensible Gbagyi son and daughter should get a copy of this book and study it thoroughly.
This chapter also challenges our current elites and traditional leaders to correct this anomaly as fast as possible.
A careful study of this book would reveal that our traditional institutions were well structured and functional. How come some of these titles today are anything but functional?
Chapter four talks about The Disparities in the Burial Rites. In this chapter, the author presents the instrument of his research methodology and presents his findings. I wish that he had analyzed the results and gave us his findings in percentages rather than the way he presents it in the book, “majority said…” For instance, saying 70 percent of the respondents said…would have been more accessible or memorable for the reader.
In chapter five, the author presents the crux of his message, as a servant of God, Word For Christian Traditional Rulers.
Dr. Dakaru argues that traditional rulers should live a Christ like lives and use their important positions to spread the gospel of Christ, rather than allow themselves to follow the path laid by the ones who went before them, some of which were fetish and even evil, to say the least. I cannot but agree with his submissions and as a spiritual leader himself, this is his whole calling.
He also talks about the responsibilities of pastors to the traditional rulers and some other related issues.
In the final chapter, six, the author proffers The Way Forward and the Conclusion.
Dr. Kakuru has written a very important book that every Gbagyi son and daughter interested in their own progress and advancement should pick a copy or two and study. I repeat this here for emphasis. I congratulate him on this milestone.
However, the book needs some thorough professional editing and a stronger cover page design. But you will definitely be informed and challenged, reading the book as it is.
I expect a revised version for the next print and I hope to meet with the author someday soon.