Obituary and In-Memoriam Advertisements in Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract

This article examines the obituary and in-memoriam advertisements in Nigerian newspapers to determine the dimensions of content used to manage grief. Ten dimensions of content were abstracted: pictorial representation as a widespread practice; immediacy of announcement following death as an appropriate etiquette in the management of death; funeral arrangements are included as open invitation to a community of mourners; ads indicate direct contact and communication with the deceased; content suggests the belief in personal immortality of the soul; religion is a pervasive, dominating force in ads; there are similarity in choice of words used in ads; recognition of the temporal nature of life; mourning seems to be an ongoing process; and often, the deceased is perceived as resting in peace. Never do obituaries and in-memoriams include the flaws of the deceased. Clearly, the dimensions of content in the obituary and in-memoriam advertisements of Nigerian newspapers are a specific cultural behavior of people who exhibit a significant degree of similarity in the management of grief. These ads serve as an unbroken link between the deceased and the bereaved. The study also suggests that openness to death is the appropriate etiquette in the management of death in Nigeria.