When cleanliness is an abomination

Usually people are distinguished by the customs they follow during funerals, weddings and other rites of passage events. One such custom is that followed by some tribes in Southern Malawi where members of the deceased’s family are not allowed to bath throughout the mourning period. What belief is behind this?

When a family member dies in Malawi usually certain practices are fulfilled to show that there is a funeral in the family and to give respect to the dead relative. Of immediate action, is the placing of tree branches or leaves on the road to the home where vigil is being held. The wearing of black clothes and shaving hair after burial are among other common practices.

However, there are also other beliefs attached to the funeral, but not common in other tribes. One of them is that family members of the deceased person should not take a bath before the body of the deceased person is buried. This is common among the Lomwe and Yaos.

While revealing that the practice is fading, Chimwemwe Chidzala who is Yao by tribe said the practice has been common among the Yao’s. However, he said more emphasis is now being put on not wearing shoes during the funeral.

“There is a lot that we believe in when it is time for funeral and taking a bath and shower are some of the major beliefs. We are encouraged not to put on shoes and take a bath. This is because we consider that the two happen when things are normal.

“Death means more than anything we have on earth and we expect it to cease all the happiness that we have in life. Of course in another way, we celebrate that our relative is going to meet God, but grief anchors the mood. If one does not put on the shoes and take a shower during this time, it symbolises respect to the deceased person,” he said.

Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlumbe of Zomba a Yao, said he is aware of the practices, but said not taking a bath when the body of the deceased person is still in the house is becoming uncommon.

“It should be noted that these traditions are common among Malawians are practiced by many people. In Yao tribe, we encourage family members of the deceased person not to put on shoes and take a shower during the funeral.

“However, the belief of taking shower is fading and I don’t know the real reasons contributing to this,” said the chief, while asking for more time to consult with other senior people in the area on the origin of the belief and its significant meaning.

In Lomwe tribe, the tradition is one of the common practices you can observe at almost every family when there is funeral according to T/A Nkhulambe of Phalombe.

The chief said abstaining from taking a bath symbolises that you are in trouble or at a great loss and in Chichewa, she said, they call it Kukhala mu fumbi.

“We do not take a bath when the body of our relative is yet to be buried. Unless, we are distant relatives. Anyone who is directly linked to the deceased person and is part of the members mourning at the funeral house, is not expected to take a bath,” she said.

The chief said the deceased family members are allowed to take a bath just after burying the dead body and it symbolises accepting that one of them is gone. She added that the water and other practices such as shaving the hair are believed to symbolise accepting and the beginning of new life minus a member.