Funeral ceremonies are deeply rooted in cultural traditions, with communities across the world developing different ways of honouring and remembering their loved ones.
Beyond mourning, funerals can bring families, friends and members of the wider community together, often creating spaces for social interaction and mutual support. However, what is considered normal at such gatherings in one culture can appear unusual in another.
This cultural difference was highlighted by Kenyan medic Amos Orwa, who is based in the United States, after attending a funeral in California.
Orwa shared a humorous account of the experience, revealing that he and his friend, Dr Okoth Mcton, were caught off guard by the lack of food and refreshments during the ceremony.
“But why don't Americans eat in funerals?” Orwa asked, joking about the experience and explaining that they almost struggled to cope with the unexpected situation.
“Me and my friend Dr Okoth Mcton almost collapsed another day when we attended a funeral in California. Aki karibu tuzimie! No snacks, leave alone food... hata maji jameni!” he said.
The Kenyan medic contrasted the experience with funeral traditions in parts of western Kenya, where providing food for mourners is often an important part of the gathering.
He specifically mentioned the Luo, Luhya and Kisii communities, while playfully noting that he was not entirely certain about the traditions among the Kisii.
According to Orwa, Kenyan families can go to considerable lengths to ensure mourners are fed, including hiring outside catering services commonly known as “Kata”.
He also referred to elaborate funeral tents associated with some ceremonies in Nairobi, where mourners can be served a range of meals and refreshments.
“We need to eat well so as to get the energy to mourn, are you listening America?” he joked.
Orwa said he was particularly surprised that even basic refreshments such as biscuits and juice were not readily available at the funeral he attended.
“Now in US, they don't even serve us BuSkut gi ginene... biscuit and juice! They just look at us like that!” he remarked.
His humorous comparison highlighted the significant differences between Kenyan and American funeral customs.
In many Kenyan communities, funerals can extend beyond the burial ceremony, with large gatherings involving meals, speeches, singing, prayers and other forms of communal participation.
Orwa took his comparison further by humorously recalling some traditional Kenyan funeral practices, including ululations, livestock and evening entertainment.
His remarks have offered a light-hearted glimpse into the cultural adjustments Kenyans living abroad may encounter, particularly when familiar customs surrounding major life events are absent.