Mourn with Others to Mourn Yourself: The Ibusa Proverb
- Emeka Esogbue
"Mbosi nmadu kwa nmadu, ka okwa onwea" - A person mourned himself the day he mourned another person.
This Igbuzo proverb highlights the importance of respecting death as well as the idea that people should take some time to grieve the deceased since doing so gives one the chance to grieve for oneself as well, since one may not be around to do so when he passes away.
This Ibusa saying had been widely accepted even before the first Christian missionaries brought the Bible to Africa.
The ancient Igbuzo community showed compassion for those in mourning by submitting to death as a higher force. However, in today's environment, when it is frequently reported that death occurs, it appears insignificant. In spite of this, man need to always make an effort to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.
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