Sense or senseless? Gen Z stirs debate after comment on lavish funeral spending
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A video posted on Instagram by a young Nigerian woman has sparked debate over the culture of lavish parties and extravagant spending at funerals.
In the video, the woman questioned why people spend so much money on funerals, arguing that the money could have been put to better use while the deceased was still alive.
She said: “I feel like humans are so sentimental because I’ve never understood the concept of funerals: hosting parties, sewing clothes, cooking food and spending millions over a dead body. Is it not better to spend the money when the person is alive?”
Reactions to her comments were mixed, although many commenters agreed with her position.
One Instagram user, @Iyawokola, wrote: “I said this generation, seh. They will ask those difficult questions our generation has been conformed to. I’m living it.”
Another user, @Iamkingdinero1, wrote: “God bless you for this. Like, I still won’t understand.”
@Luckynero28 shared a similar view, saying the issue was one they had discussed in their family.
“This is exactly what I told my siblings, and my dad knows my stand on burial and funeral arrangements. I’ve always told him, ‘Dad, ask me for anything within my capacity while you are alive, and I will do my best to provide it. But once you’ve joined your ancestors, I’m not going to spend extravagantly trying to impress people,’” the user wrote.
One commenter, @dear_dapson, stirred controversy with a blunt response, writing: “It’s a celebration of life, olodo (fool).”
The remark triggered a series of heated responses from other users, some of whom challenged his position.
@shedrachchiroma wrote: “@dear_dapson, you are the real olodo, sir. I can’t believe a teenager is wiser than you.”
Another commenter, @senabosede24, argued that celebrations should take place while people are still alive.
“Celebrate that person alive and not when they are dead. You are just feeding your village people,” the user wrote.
Similarly, @mobileradion wrote: “@dear_dapson, na you be the actual olodo. Celebrate the life when they are alive.”
@benuestatevendor also weighed in, writing: “@dear_dapson, just go back to Facebook, bro. You don’t belong here.”
