Tough Times - Long Distance Funeral Transport

Learn more about what Tough Times Funeral Transport can do for you and your loved ones

Swailand, Its People and Culture

Location and Geography. Swaziland, in southern Africa between Mozambique and South Africa, is a landlocked country of 6,074 square miles (17,360 square kilometers). The terrain is mostly mountainous with moderately sloping plains. The legislative capital is Lobamba, one of the traditional royal seats. The administrative capital is the nearby city of Mbabane. Manzini is the business hub.
Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Marriage. Marriage is defined as the union of two families. Polygynous marriages were once common, but the spread of Christianity and economic considerations have made them much less common today. The production of children is seen as an essential part of the marriage contract. Marriage between members of the same clan is forbidden; this practice extends and maintains social ties. Subclans occasionally are created to facilitate marriage between members of the same clan. Divorce has increased as a result of urbanization. Since traditional marriage is governed by uncodified law and custom, women's rights are interpreted differently by different parties. Under civil law, a man is technically restricted to a single wife.

Domestic Unit. In rural areas, patrilocal residence traditionally was the norm, and a homestead would include the headman, his wives, unmarried siblings, and married sons with their wives and children. With the exception of minor children, all females within the homestead are considered "outsiders." Nuclear family residence is the norm in towns.

Inheritance. Only males can inherit. The heir usually is not appointed until the father's death. In traditional polygynous households, the main heir is rarely the oldest son. The rank of the mother, not the order of marriage, plays an important role in the selection of the main heir.

Kin Groups. The clan is the major kin group. Every Swazi bears the clan name of the father, which also serves as a surname. Women retain membership in their paternal clan, though it is common for wives to use the husband's clan name as a surname. Each clan contains a number of lineages.

Death and the Afterlife. Swazi believe that the spirit of a person has a distinct existence. One's social place is demonstrated through the elaborateness of funeral rituals. A head of household is buried at the sibaya ; his widow shaves her head and undertakes a long period of mourning.

Traditional Zulu Burial

If the correct funeral rites are not observed, the deceased may come back to trouble the living relatives. Usually an animal is killed in ritual, although this also serves the practical purpose of providing food for the many guests. Personal belongings are often buried with the deceased to assist in the journey. Various other rituals follow the funeral itself. The Nguni people kill an ox at the burial to accompany the deceased.

The most important elements to the traditional Zulu funeral are the Ox, i.e. if the deceased is umnumzane (the man/head of the house) or a goat, insense (impepho) in order to communicate with ansestors and traditional brew (ukhamba). The idea is that the attendees must feast and celebrate to wish the deceased a good journey to abaphansi (deceased relatives).

Like most African tribes, the Zulus pay tribute to the souls of the dead, in Zulu they are called 'abaphansi' (roughly translated to mean, those in the ground) or 'amadlozi' (ancestors). In western terms, one could compare them to guardian angels. Those 'left behind' go to great lengths to keep them happy by making sacrifices and offerings to them; they also ensure that the souls are brought back from the place where the body died to the family home. They are given a special place to 'live' in the hut, this place is called 'emsamo', and this is where one goes to talk to and communicate with them and any sacrifices and offerings are placed there for them.

Advice on Funeral Attire

Many people can feel anxious about attending a funeral service. Knowing what to say, what to wear and what to do to express sympathy to those who have lost a loved one can be overwhelming during an already difficult time.

When you are determining what to wear, consider where and when the service will be held. Every service is unique and the type of service should help you decide the appropriate attire. For instance, if you are attending a personal service on the beach, you would most likely want to dress more casually and wear brighter colours than if you are attending a more traditional service in a church, temple, synagogue or chapel.

If you are unsure what to wear, here are a few general guidelines to follow:

Men
Men should wear a suit with a collared shirt and tie. Traditional funeral attire generally calls for predominately black, gray or dark blue colors; however, colored shirts and ties are more becoming more acceptable.

Women
Women should wear a dress, skirt and blouse, or suit. Adding brighter elements of color are becoming more typical, but the primary color should be either dark or neutral. Avoid patterns or other prints that may be distracting.

Children
The same guidelines can be applied to children attire.

Shoes
If you are attending a graveside service or will be standing for long hours, remember to wear comfortable shoes without a heel.

Weather
Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before attending a service so you are prepared if the forecast calls for rain or severe temperatures. Bring an umbrella, raincoat, overcoat, gloves or a hat as appropriate, especially if you will be outside for an extended period of time.