Main Article Content

Abstract

Death is as old as human kind, but always appears in minds as fresh as a new born when and wherever it occurs. Death or loss of loved one/valuable items is a tragedy, disastrous and difficult to swallow within a short period of its occurrence. The unpredictable psychological feeling called grief is usually accompanied with emotional setbacks like; anxiety, depression, insomnia, anger, feeling of guilt, sadness, despair and yearning among others determines the level of attachment to the loss and so the likely period of bereavement. The unfortunate circumstances seem to manifest themselves even among animals particularly mammals for example;  chimpanzees exhibit silence behavior around the dead member, gorillas use sign language and even expressing sadness about the deceased member, elephants display destructive unusual habit on seeing motionless member, some deer mostly sniff and poke while looking at their lifeless deceased among others. However, this paper attempts to define the concepts of grief, mourning, counselling and bereavement practices by various groups around the world, with much emphasis on Igbo people of South-Eastern Nigeria as well as its counselling implications.

Keywords

grief bereavement Igbo people counselling

Article Details

How to Cite
Kamonges, W., & Nawait, M. (2018). Grief and Bereavement Practices Among Igbo People of South-Eastern Nigeria: Implications for Counselling. Interdisciplinary Journal of Education, 1(1), 110–121. https://doi.org/10.53449/ije.v1i1.41

References

  1. Center, C. (2007). Grief and loss. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from Counseling Center: http://www.counselingcenter.illinois.edu/?page_id=175
  2. Clark, V. (2000) Why angels fall: A journey through Orthodox Europe from Byzantium to Kosovo. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
  3. Doughty, E. A., Wissel, A., & Glorfield, C. (2011). Current trends in grief counseling. Vistas Online. Retrieved from http://counselingoutfitters.com/vistas/vistas11/Article_94.pdf
  4. Echema, A. (1996). Igbo funeral rites today: Anthropological and theological perspectives. Encyclopedia of World Cultures | 1996 | Amadiume, Ifi | Igbo http://counselingoutfitters.com/vistas/vistas11/Article_94.pdf
  5. Irish, D. P. (1993). Introduction-multiculturalism and the majority population. In D. P. Irish, K. F. Lindquist, & V. J. Nelson (Eds.), Ethnic variations in dying, death, and grief: Diversity in universality. Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis.
  6. Isichei, E. (1976). A history of the Igbo people. New York: St. Martin's Press.
  7. Kersting, K. (2004, November). A new approach to complicated grief. Monitor on Psychology 35(10). Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov04/grief.aspx
  8. Kubler-ross, E. (1996). On death and dying. New York: Macmillan.
  9. Mcdonald, P. C. (1985). Grieving: A healing process. Center city, MN: Hazelden Foundation.
  10. Melinda J. S. (2012, January). Coping with grief and loss. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from helpguide.org: http://helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm
  11. Onwuejeogwu, M. A, (1981). Igbo civilization: Nri Kingdom & hegemony. ethnographica.
  12. Rosenblatt, P. C., Walsh, R. P., & Jackson, D. A. (1976). Grief and mourning in cross-cultural perspective. New Haven: Human Relations Area files Press.
  13. Sahih Muslim Volume 2, Book 23, (Number 370-371), (Number 391), (Number 375-393) Islahi (1986), pp. 546
  14. Shehzad S. (2004). The social directives of Islam: Distinctive aspects of Ghamidi’s interpretation. Renaissance. March, The Canada Gazette Clothing of Ancient Rome Charles Spencer, Cecil Beaton: Stage and Film Designs, London: Academy Editions,
  15. Similes Dictionary (1988). The Gale Group (1st Ed.), Inc. All rights reserved
  16. Uchendu, V. C. (1965). The Igbo of Southeast Nigeria. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
  17. Wakefield, J. C. (2013). DSM-5 grief scorecard: Assessment and outcomes of proposals to pathologize grief. World.

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.