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This picture shows the decor and jovial mood seen at funerals these days

Tafadzwa Zimoyo Lifestyle Writer

Death, they say, is inevitable. It comes without saying “Hello” or “Excuse me”, for that matter. It knows no age and time. It happens when people have no money in most cases. Some do not worry much as they have reliable funeral cover. For some when death lurks, it’s a disaster. With no funeral plan, the burden falls squarely on family members, relatives, friends and others. And, have you ever wondered what your funeral will look like?

It’s a tricky question that many feel only death holds the answers.
It might sound a little bizarre, awkward and something completely unheard of, but planning for a funeral is gradually becoming fashionable just like planning for a wedding.

A new trend is emerging in the country. Gone are the days when people would just hold funerals as they come, with people mourning their departed ones, burying them and forgetting about the whole episode.

Often times, funeral arrangements would be made at the last minute, with relatives and friends of the departed making frantic efforts to buy a coffin, food for the mourners, acquire transport and put in place other modalities associated with the occasion.

But nowadays, it has become the latest vogue to give a funeral wake or service “glamour.”
The well-heeled are giving funerals a new touch, with everything normally seen at wedding ceremonies being done. They only leave out the cake, vows and rings and dance music.

While this trend has been seen in some Western countries, it is finding its way into the African fabric. More and more people are increasingly holding “glitzy” funerals.

Funeral service providers say there is nothing wrong with this new development.
Says Cosmas Muponda, the director of Cosmas Memorial Assurance: “There is nothing wrong in preparing for a funeral in a glamorous fashion. It’s a way of giving your beloved departed ones a memorable and dignified send-off.”

He says people have to move with the times.
“You see, times are changing and gone are the days when you would just bury your departed ones in a simple fashion,” he says.
“Nowadays, you really want the funeral to be a big event and a memorable one, which will linger in the minds of people for a long time to come.” Moving with fashion means business for funeral providers.

“If you can make your birthday a memorable one, why can’t you at least do something similar to the funeral of your beloved ones?” he asks.

“It is true that funerals are often sombre occasion, but try to lighten up the mood by creating an atmosphere that helps in reducing the load in people’s hearts.”

Anna Mbiti of Glen Lorne says she once witnessed a funeral that evoked an atmosphere of a party or a wedding.
“It was something I had never seen before. The decor was just marvellous and the mourners were dressed to kill, not mention the state-of-the-art equipment they used,” she says.

“So in a way, I believe this sent a message about their profound love of their dearly departed.” Innovative funeral service providers are capitalising on this new development.

Some have created new funeral policies that go beyond just providing transport, coffin and burial service.
The policies are coming on board with an extra funeral event cover to meet the growing needs of Harare’s elite mourners.

“This is similar to a funeral policy, only that this goes an extra step in that it will not just be an ordinary funeral, like the ones that people are used to, but a classical one, if you like,” says Karen Mumbire of ZACO events management.

Most funerals of the elite have dance and music performances to relieve the grieving mood.
Others are going with renditions of favourite songs of the departed while others play songs with messages full of hope to comfort bereaving families.

“For some of the funerals you would think you are at Michael Jackson and Brenda Fassie’s funeral.
“It’s just unbelievable what people are doing,” says an elderly Highfield man.

“Times are changing but our culture does not permit showing off at funerals. It’s just too English. It’s unAfrican.”
Some further say that trendy funerals are changing the face of mourning.

“If you have a family album with photos of the departed, these can also become handy and can be arranged in a way which sort of chronicles the life story of the departed, in a logical way,” says a Harare resident.

Others are now brightening up funerals and blending colours for tents and stages using their departed ones’ favourite colours.
Some go a step further and use church colours, logos and other symbols to show that their departed was a Christian.

Others celebrate the life and times of the departed by reciting poems and singing happy songs.
“Try to make the service as happy as possible. Death is sad and tragic, but it can also be a celebration of a life well lived. Talk about what fun you had together instead of how sad you are that he or she is gone now,” says a Harare bereavement counsellor.

“Read your loved one’s favourite poems or lyrics from songs at the service, read your favourite poem or lyric at the service. If you feel you cannot do it without breaking up, brace yourself and continue. There is nothing wrong with honestly displaying your emotions. If you can’t continue, ask someone to stand in for you.”

Death, one renowned English writer once remarked, is a lonely and dreary affair.
A funeral is a funeral and Shona wisdom has it that “zvinorwadza vasara”.